In vitro growth of corpora allata from Diploptera punctata.
An in vitro organ culture system was established to support growth of corpora allata from the cockroach Diploptera punctata. During a 1-wk incubation in L-15B medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10% cockroach hemolymph, adult male corpora allata exhibited a cycle of de novo DNA synthesis followed by cell division. The number of S-phase cells and metaphase cells per corpus allatum were counted from whole-mount monolayers after labeling in vitro with 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and exposure to colchicine, respectively. While both FBS and cockroach hemolymph were essential for proliferation of allatal cells, the growth-promoting effect of insect hemolymph was not species-specific and adult female hemolymph was more potent than hemolymph from adult males. Furthermore, DNA synthesis of corpus allatum cells was stimulated in vitro by 20-hydroxyecdysone. This sensitive assay system will be of immense utility in the search for allatal growth factors.
Institute of Life Science, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.
W H
WH
Tsai
G L
GL
Holbrook
C
C
Schal
A S
AS
Chiang
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000254:growth & development*; D003335:Corpora Allata / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology
D003470:Culture Media; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D004441:Ecdysterone; D004247:DNA