Selective stimulation of puffing activity in vitro with a juvenile hormone analogue by polytene chromosomes in the salivary glands of Chironomus thummi (Diptera)

Abstract

Salivary glands of Chironomus thummi prepupae were treated in vitro with various concentrations of the juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) methoprene and the puffing activities of Balbiani rings (BR) b and c were scored in cytological preparations of polytene chromosomes. In control cultures, both BRb and BRc regress rapidly. JHA treatment in vitro prevented regression at both these sites. In addition, BRb was found to expand within 60 min to a size two to three times larger than in control contralateral glands. The most effective concentration for stimulation of BRb and BRc in vitro was 10−7 M. In vivo treatment of prepupae with 10−7 M JHA also induced puffing activity in BRb and BRc to a degree similar to that observed following in vitro treatment. It is concluded that BRb, and perhaps also BRc, are juvenile hormone (JH) inducible chromosomal sites in Chironomus thummi salivary glands. This is the first report of chromosomal sites that are stimulated by JH in vitro in the absence of exogenous ecdysteroids. These findings support the view that JH may act at the gene level at separate loci from ecdysone.