In vitro secretion of α‐ecdysone by prothoracic glands of a hemimetabolous insect, Leucophaea maderae (Blattaria)

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Abstract
Prothoracic glands of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae were maintained in organ culture under defined conditions. Examination of the culture medium from mid‐instar glands revealed material which gave a positive response in an ecdysone radioimmune assay and the Musca bioassay. The material was identified as α‐ecdysone on the basis of its co‐chromatography with α‐ecdysone on thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography using the highly selective electrone capture detector. Only very low amounts of secreted material were detected from glands of early last instar nymphs or 1 day adults. No material was secreted from several control tissues.