Correlation A Cell Size , and , mong Corpus Allatum Volume , Juvenile Hormone Biosynthesis in Ovariectomized Adult Blaftella germanica

The corpora allata (CA) of both intact and ovariectomized Blattella germanica adult females exhibited a high degree of bilateral symmetry in the rate of juveni le hormone (JH) biosynthesis, the mean size of CA cells, and gland volume (81.3%, 98.3%,and 100% respectively wi th less than a twofold difference between the two glands in CA pairs). This permitted us to split each CA pair randomly, measure JH biosynthesis in one gland, and dissociate the other gland into a cell suspension in which the size of CA cells was measured. In ovariectomized females, changes in CA volume and the spontaneous and farnesoic acid (FA)-stimulated rates of JH biosynthesis, measured from the same glands, were well correlated (r =0.78, for both correlations). Similarly, the mean volume of CA cells in one gland increased in relation to increases in both the spontaneous and FA-stimulated rates of JH biosynthesis by the contralateral member of the pair (r=0.83 and r=0.91, respectively). Concurrent changes in CA cell size and activity suggest that in the CA of B. germanica cellular growth and degradation are involved in the regulation of J H biosynthesis.