A possible relationship between the occurrence of catecholamines and water absorption in insect eggs

Abstract

DOPA, DOPamine, and N-acetyl DOPamine have been identified as the only polyphenols in the eggs of Teleogryllus commodus, Gryllus bermudiensis, and Gryllodes sigillatus. DOPamine and N-acetyl DOPamine occur in the eggs of Melanoplus bivittatus together with a substance which is probably DOPA. No catecholamines were found in eggs of Musca domestica or the whole oötheca of Blattella germanica. These few examples suggest that there may be a relationship between the occurrence of these catecholamines and water absorption in insect eggs. Fluorometric estimations reveal a high ratio of DOPamine to N-acetyl DOPamine in eggs of M. bivittatus sampled at different stages of embryogenesis.