Ecdysone Analog: Conversion to Alpha Ecdysone and 20-Hydroxyecdysone by an Insect

Abstract
The tritium-labeled synthetic ecdysone analog Δ7-5β-cholestene-2β,-3β,14α-triol-6-one terminated diapause when injected into diapausing tobacco hornworm pupae and was converted into tritium-labeled α-ecdysone and tritium-labeled 20-hydroxyecdysone. About half of the crystalline α-ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone isolated from the tobacco hornworms 7½ to 8½ days after injection was derived from endogenous steroid precursors and half from the transformation of the synthetic ecdysone analog.