Abdu, U., P. Takac, G. Yehezkel, R Chayoth, A. Sagi
Methyl farnesoate (MF)-the unepoxidated form of the insect juvenile hormone III- is the only juvenile hormone-like compound found in crustaceans thus far. In larvae of M. rosenbergii, which metamorphose to post-larvae (PL) through 11 zoea stages, the possible role of MF as a morphogen was studied by its administration through Artemia vector. Artemia nauplii which were cultured for 24 hours in lipid enriched media containing [3H]MF accumulated up to 4.1 % of the total radioactivity inserted. About 0.042 % of the total radioactivity inserted was found in M. rosenbergii larvae fed on enriched Artemia. A dose response enrichment of Artemia by MF showed a saturation curve mode. The compound accumulated in the Artemia was shown to be MF by HPLC, demonstrating the stability of MF within the vector.
Different doses of MF administered through Artemia vector caused retardation of larval development in M. rosenbergii in a dose response manner, and affected patterns of metamorphosis showing abnormal phenomena in which both larval and post larval features appeared in the same individual.
(Ben-Gurion Univ., Beer-Sheva, Israel)
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