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Abstract
In the cockroach Blattella germanica, the synthesis of vitellogenin is juvenile hormone
III (JH III)-dependent. We have studied the effect of JH III upon vitellogenin gene
expression in periovaric fat bodies incubated in vitro. Periovaric fat bodies were
obtained from cardioallatectomized females. The response to JH III was measured in
terms of vitellogenin and vitellogenin mRNA after 7 h of incubation. A hormonal concentration
as low as 1 nM was enough to induce vitellogenin production and its release to the
medium, whereas the concentration of 10 nM produced the maximal effects. Although
the response of the vitellogenin gene to JH III is fast and efficient, it seems that
the action is mediated by protein factors, given that cycloheximide treatment impairs
the hormonal effect. The presence in the medium of brain extract (0.5 equivalents),
corpora cardiaca (one pair) or hypertrehalosemic hormone (10(-7) or 10(-8) M), partially
inhibited the response to JH III.