Effect of the chemosterilant p,p'-bis(1-aziridinyl)-N-(3-methoxypropyl)-phosphinothioic amide on some dehydrogenases during oögenesis and embryogenesis of the house fly.

Abstract

P, P'-Bis (l-aziridinyl)-N-(3-methoxypropyl) phosphinothioic amide, amide, an insect chemosterilant, was administered orally to a mixed population of Musca domestica L., immediately after they emerged. At 5 µg/fly in the dry diet, oviposition was nearly normal, but the eggs were 100% nonviable. As judged by enzyme activity measurement and acrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns, malic acid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the ovaries and eggs of chemosterilized flies appeared normal. However, this was not the case with lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH). Although the LDH pattern was similar to that in normal ovaries, activity in mature chemosterilized ovaries was considerably less than that in ovaries from normal flies. In chemosterilized eggs, only 2 LDH isoenzymes could be detected, whereas in normal eggs during embryogenesis, the pattern changed from 2 to 5 LDH isoenzymes. When crude protein extract from chemosterilized eggs was purified by DEAE cellulose column chromatography, increased LDH activity was found. This fact indicates that LDH in chemo-sterilized eggs may be bound in some way and that it may be a contributing factor in the nonviability of the eggs.