Testosterone, progesterone, and FSH levels in Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and its host Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Various vertebrate-type steroid and gonadotropin hormones have been identified in invertebrates, including insects; however, studies in this area are not sufficient to presume a generalized role for these hormones. We identified testosterone, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the whole-body homogenates of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasitoid Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Testosterone concentration significantly decreased from early instars to last instars and pupal stages of G. mellonella; however, no significant difference was observed in progesterone levels at different stages. FSH concentration reached the highest level at the pupal stage of G. mellonella. No significant difference was observed in testosterone, progesterone, and FSH concentrations in young and mature adults of the parasitoid P. turionellae for both sexes. We also monitored the changes in testosterone, progesterone, and FSH levels over 2, 6, and 24 h in parasitized G. mellonella pupae. During the experimental periods no significant difference in hormone levels was found between controls and parasitized G. mellonella pupae.

Testosterone, progesterone, and FSH levels in Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and its host Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Various vertebrate-type steroid and gonadotropin hormones have been identified in invertebrates, including insects; however, studies in this area are not sufficient to presume a generalized role for these hormones. We identified testosterone, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the whole-body homogenates of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasitoid Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Testosterone concentration significantly decreased from early instars to last instars and pupal stages of G. mellonella; however, no significant difference was observed in progesterone levels at different stages. FSH concentration reached the highest level at the pupal stage of G. mellonella. No significant difference was observed in testosterone, progesterone, and FSH concentrations in young and mature adults of the parasitoid P. turionellae for both sexes. We also monitored the changes in testosterone, progesterone, and FSH levels over 2, 6, and 24 h in parasitized G. mellonella pupae. During the experimental periods no significant difference in hormone levels was found between controls and parasitized G. mellonella pupae.

___

  • Beckage, N.E. 2008. Parasitoid polydnaviruses and insect immunity. In: Insect Immunology (Ed. N.E. Beckage). Elsevier, New York, pp. 243–270.
  • Beckage, N.E. and Gelman, D.B. 2004. Wasp parasitoid disruption of host development: implications for new biologically based strategies for insect control. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 49: 299−330.
  • Bradbrook, D.A., Clement, C.Y. and Cook, B. 1990. Th e occurrence of vertebrate-type steroids in insects and a comparison with ecdysteroid levels. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 95(2): 365−374.
  • Darvas, B., Szekacs, A., Fonagy, A., Szecsi, M. and Toth, I. 1997. Progesterone in Periplaneta americana and Neobellieria bullata adults from the procuticle phase until fi rst progeny production. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 107: 450−460.
  • Das, S. 1994. Studies on the role of estrogen in reproduction in silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (race Nistari), PhD dissertation, University of Calcutta.
  • De Clerck, D., Diederik, H. and De Loof, A. 1984. Identifi cation by capillary gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry of eleven non- ecdysteroid steroids in the hemolymph of larvae of Sarcophaga bullata. Insect Biochem. 14: 199−208.
  • De Clerck, D., Diederik, H., Paesen, G. and De Loof, A. 1988. Identifi cation and quantifi cation of C21 and C19 steroids in the hemolymph of Leptinotarsa decemlineata a phytophagous insect. Insect Biochem. 18: 93−99.
  • De Clerck, D., Eechaute, W., Leusen, I., Diederik, H. and De Loof, A. 1983. Identifi cation of testosterone and progesterone in hemolymph of larvae of the fl esh fl y Sarcophaga bullata. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 52: 368−378.
  • De Loof, A. 2008. Ecdysteroids, juvenile hormone and insect neuropeptides: recent successes and remaining major challenges. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 155: 3−13.
  • De Loof, A., Baggerman, G., Breuer, M., Claeys, I., Cerstiaens, A., Clynen, E., Janssen, T., Schoofs, L. and Vanden Broeck, J. 2001. Gonadotropins in insects: an overview. Arc. Insect Biochem. and Physiol. 47: 129−138.
  • De Loof, A. and De Clerck, D. 1986. Vertebrate-type steroids in arthropods: identifi cation, concentrations and possible functions. In: Advances in Invertebrate Reproduction (Eds. M. Porchet, J.C. Andries and A. Dhainaut). Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 117−123.
  • Denlinger, D.L., Brueggemeier, R.W., Mechoulam, R., Katlic, N., Yocum, L.B. and Yocum, G.D. 1987. Estrogens and androgens in insects. In: Molecular Entomology (Ed. J.H. Law). Liss, New York, pp. 189−199.
  • Er, A., Uçkan, F., Rivers, D.B., Ergin, E. and Sak, O. 2010. Eff ects of parasitization and envenomation by the endoparasitic wasp Pimpla turionellae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) on hemocyte numbers, morphology, and viability of its host Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 103: 273−282.
  • Er, A., Uçkan, F., Rivers, D.B. and Sak, O. 2011. Cytotoxic eff ects of parasitism and application of venom from the endoparasitoid Pimpla turionellae on hemocytes of the host Galleria mellonella. J. Appl. Entomol. 135: 225−236.
  • Ergin, E., Uçkan, F., Rivers, D.B. and Sak, O. 2006. In vivo and in vitro activity of venom from the endoparasitic wasp Pimpla turionellae (L.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 61: 87−97.
  • Gelman, D.B., Reed, D.A. and Beckage, N.E. 1998. Manipulation of fi ft h-instar host (Manduca sexta) ecdysteroid levels by the parasitoid wasp Cotesia congregate. J. Insect Physiol. 44: 833−843.
  • Kansu, I.A. and Uğur, A. 1984. Pimpla turionellae (L.) (Hym., Ichneumonidae) ile konukçusu bazı Lepidopter pupaları arasındaki biyolojik ilişkiler üzerinde araştırmalar. Doğa. Bil. Derg. 8: 160−173.
  • Keshan, B. and Ray, A.K. 2000. Estradiol-17β in Bombyx mori: possible signifi cance and its eff ect on silk production. J. Insect Physiol. 46: 1061−1068.
  • Khafagi, W.E. and Hegazi, E.M. 2001. Eff ects of juvenile hormones I and II and precocenes I and II on the immune response of Spodoptera littoralis larvae to supernumerary larvae of the solitary parasitoid, Microplitis rufi ventris Kok. J. Insect Physiol. 47: 1249−1259.
  • Kramer, K.J. 1985. Vertebrate hormones in insects. In: Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology (Eds. G.A. Kerkut and L.I. Gilbert). Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 511−536.
  • Lafont, R. 1991. Reversal endocrinology or “hormones” seeking functions. Insect Biochem. 21: 697−721.
  • Li, S., Falabella, P., Kuriachan, I., Vinson, S.B., Borst, D.W., Malva, C. and Pennacchio, F. 2003. Juvenile hormone synthesis, metabolism, and resulting haemolymph titre in Heliothis virescens larvae parasitized by Toxoneuron nigriceps. J. Insect Physiol. 49: 1021−1030.
  • Meunpol, O., Iam-Pai, S., Suthikrai, W. and Piyatiratitivorakul, S. 2007. Identifi cation of progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in polychaetes (Perinereis sp.) and the eff ects of hormone extracts on penaeid oocyte development in vitro. Aquaculture 270: 485−492.
  • Novak, F., De Clerck, D., Paesen, G., Swevers, L. and De Loof, A. 1987. Radioimmunological quantifi cation of C21, C19 and C18 steroids in haemolymph of the insect Locusta migratoria. Int. J. Invert. Reprod. Devel. 11: 255−264.
  • Riddiford, L.M. 1993. Hormones and Drosophila development. In: Th e Development of Drosophila melanogaster (Eds. M. Bate and A. Martinez Arias). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA, pp. 899−939.
  • Sak, O., Ergin, E., Uçkan, F., Rivers, D.B. and Er, A. 2011. Changes in the hemolymph total protein of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) aft er parasitism and envenomation by Pimpla turionellae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Turk. J. Biol. 35: 425−432.
  • Swevers, L., Lambert, J.G.D. and De Loof, A. 1991. Synthesis and metabolism of vertebrate-type steroids by tissues of insects: a critical evaluation. Experientia 47: 687−698.
  • Takac, P., Kozanek, M., Somogyiova, E. and Vyboh, P. 1993. Immunoreactive progesterone concentration in some tissues of the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea (Blattodea: Panchloridae) during development. Eur. J. Entomol. 90: 37−44.
  • Th eunis, W., Blähser, S., Huybrechts, R. and De Loof, A. 1989. Luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotropin releasing hormone immunoreactivity in two insects: Locusta migratoria migratoroides R&F and Sarcophaga bullata (Parker). Invertebr. Reprod. Dev. 16: 111−117.
  • Uçkan, F., Er, A. and Ergin, E. 2010. Levels of encapsulation and melanization in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) parasitized and envenomated by Pimpla turionellae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 134: 718−726.
  • Uçkan, F., Sinan, S., Savaşçı, Ş. and Ergin, E. 2004. Determination of venom components from the endoparasitoid wasp Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 97: 775−780.
  • Verhaert, P. and De Loof, A. 1986. Substances resembling peptides of the vertebrate gonadotropin system occur in the central nervous system of Periplaneta americana L. Immunological and some biological evidence. Insect Biochem. 16: 191−197.
  • Verhaert, P. and De Loof, A. 1988. Human luteinizing hormone- like material in the neurosecretory system of Periplaneta americana: a histochemical study with monoclonal antibodies. J. Insect Physiol. 34: 577−583.
  • Wani, M., Iwabuchi, K., Agui, N. and Mitsuhashi, J. 1997. Endocrine alteration and precocious premetamorphic behaviors in the greater wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella, parasitized by an endoparasitoid, Apanteles galleriae. Arc. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 34: 257−273.
  • Zhu, J.Y., Ye, G.Y. and Dong, S.Z. 2009. Venom of Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) induced endocrine changes in the hemolymph of its host, Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Arc. Insect. Biochem. Physiol. 71(1): 45−53.