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Acceleration by Ecdysterone of Premoult Substages in the Crayfish

Nature volume 242, pages 133–134 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

AN insect does not enter premoult if its thoracic glands have been removed, nor a crustacean if its y-organs have been removed, but once premoult is under way it continues whether or not the glands are present1,2. This suggests that the hormone secreted by these glands acts merely as a trigger to initiate premoult, and as the injection of ecdysone also initiates premoult, this is the hormone thought to be secreted. Also, the brain-ring gland complex of Calliphora, which contains the homologues of the thoracic glands, has been shown to produce substances similar to ecdysone and crustecdysone3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242

    J. R. STEVENSON & J. A. TSCHANTZ

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  1. J. R. STEVENSON
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  2. J. A. TSCHANTZ
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STEVENSON, J., TSCHANTZ, J. Acceleration by Ecdysterone of Premoult Substages in the Crayfish. Nature 242, 133–134 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/242133a0

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