Effects of allatostatin on female reproduction in the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of allatostatin (Ast) on the adult female reproductive system of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.). At first, different concentrations of Ast in the brain- SOG, midgut, ovaries, and fat body of 5 days old adult females were confirmed. Moreover, it was shown that the highest concentration of Ast was observed in brain-SOG. Daily injections of Ast decreased ecdysteroid concentration in the hemolymph and ovaries. Ast injection decreased the expression level of vitellogenin (Vg) genes. Furthermore, it reduced oocyte size. These results showed that Ast has a regulatory role in the reproduction of G. mellonella female.

Keywords

• galleria mellonella
• ecdysteroid
• oocyte size
• vitellogenin