title: Sex-specific developmental profiles of juvenile hormone synthesis in honey bee larvae.
abstract: Juvenile hormone synthesis in drone larvae of the honey bee was measured by an in vitro radiochemical assay. The developmental profile of corpora allata activity in male larvae showed considerable differences from queen larvae, the presumptive reproductive females, and was comparable to workers, the sterile female morph. Drone and worker larvae, however, differed drastically in the regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis, as revealed by the addition of farnesoic acid to the culture medium. This precursor stimulated juvenile hormone synthesis of drone glands nearly eightfold, whereas in worker larvae it is known to lead to an accumulation of methyl farnesoate. The sex-specific differences in endocrine activity indicate a role for juvenile hormone in the expression of genetically determined sexually dimorphic characters during metamorphosis, a role not currently accounted for in models describing endocrine regulation of insect development.
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, LS Entwicklungsphysiologie, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, W-7400, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartfelder
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, LS Entwicklungsphysiologie, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, W-7400, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sibele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Tozetto
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, LS Entwicklungsphysiologie, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, W-7400, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rachinsky
keywords: Apis mellifera; Corpora allata activity; Juvenile hormone; Metamorphosis; Sexual dimorphism