Abstract
The moulting process in insects is initiated and directed by the hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone1, which causes the secretion of a new cuticle and the internal changes that are necessary for the new stage. When the new cuticle is complete, the old one is then shed or ecdysed. In Lepidoptera a neurosecretory peptide, eclosion hormone (EH)2–4, triggers adult ecdysis by acting on the central nervous system to elicit the ecdysial motor programmes5 and also causes other physiological changes associated with ecdysis6. Although it was originally thought that EH was used only for the rather specialized adult ecdysis3, we report here that the hormone is used for all postembryonic ecdyses in the life history of moths, but its source varies with developmental stage. Moreover, EH may be common to a wide variety of insects. For the ecdyses of the adult4, pupa7 and the 5th instar larva of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (P.F.C., unpublished results), EH appeared in the blood before the start of the behaviour. Also, injections of partially purified EH caused precocious ecdysis of the three stages with 50% responses occurring at 0.3, 0.02 and 0.01 EH units, respectively.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Riddiford, L. M. & Truman, J. W. in Insect Biochemistry (ed. Rockstein, M.) 307–357 (Academic, New York, 1978).
Truman, J. W. & Riddiford, L. M. Science 167, 1624–1626 (1970).
Truman, J. W. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 144, 200–211 (1973).
Reynolds, S. E., Taghert, P. H. & Truman, J. W. J. exp. Biol. 78, 77–86 (1979).
Truman, J. W. J. exp. Biol. 74, 151–174 (1978).
Truman, J. W. in Insect Biology in the Future (eds Locke, M. & Smith, D. S.) 385–401 (Academic, New York, 1980).
Truman, J. W., Taghert, P. H. & Reynolds, S. E. J. exp. Biol. 88, 327–337 (1980).
Taghert, P. H., Truman, J. W. & Reynolds, S. E. J. exp. Biol. 88, 339–349 (1980).
Truman, J. W. J. exp. Biol. 57, 805–820 (1972).
Khan, T. R. & Fraser, A. in Neurosecretion (eds. Heller, H. & Clark, R. B.) 349–369 (Academic, London, 1962).
Carlson, J. R. J. comp. Physiol. 115, 299–317 (1977).
Miller, P. L. & Mills, P. S. in Perspectives in Experimental Biology Vol. I. (ed. Spencer-Davis, P.) 199–208 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Truman, J., Taghert, P., Copenhaver, P. et al. Eclosion hormone may control all ecdyses in insects. Nature 291, 70–71 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291070a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/291070a0
This article is cited by
-
An eclosion hormone-like gene participates in the molting process of Palaemonid shrimp Exopalaemon carinicauda
Development Genes and Evolution (2017)
-
Physiologische Uhren von Insekten Zur �kophysiologie lunarperiodisch kontrollierter Fortpflanzungszeiten
Naturwissenschaften (1995)
-
The effects of azadirachtin A on the morphology of the ring complex of Lucilia cuprina (Wied) larvae (Diptera: Insecta)
Cell & Tissue Research (1994)
-
Prothoracicotropic hormone activity in the embryonic brain of the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta
Journal of Comparative Physiology B (1987)
-
Control of neurosecretion in the mothManduca sexta: Physiological regulation of the eclosion hormone cells
Journal of Comparative Physiology A (1986)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.