![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Summary
Ecdysteroids in non-reproductive, reproductive, and post-reproductive specimens of two nemerteans, Paranemertes peregrina and Pantinonemertes californiensis, were studied using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Ecdysteroid concentrations increased during the reproductive season in females of both species. These data suggest the possibility that ecdysteroids are involved in reproduction. Study of ecdysteroid profiles using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) followed by RIA showed that the types and relative amounts of different ecdysteroid metabolites were similar between mature male and female Pan. californiensis. In addition, [3H]-ecdysone was injected into mature male and female Pan. californiensis. The resulting RP-HPLC profiles indicated that both sexes metabolized [3H]-ecdysone to similar products. Both sexes produced polar and apolar ecdysteroid conjugates as the major metabolites of [3H]-ecdysone, with only traces of [3H]-20-hydroxyecdysone.
Key words: