Egg laying by allatectomized females of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes

Abstract

Following removal of the corpora allata from newly emerged adult females of Melanoplus sanguinipes there was no maturation of eggs by about two-thirds of the operated animals. The remaining one-third had well-developed ovaries and deposited normal egg pods, but at a reduced rate as compared with normal females. There was marked growth of nervous and connective tissue from the area of the corpus cardiacum in these egg-laying, allatectomized females. We suggest that this regenerative-type growth of nervous and connective tissue may stimulate the cerebral neurosecretory cells and that the cerebral hormone(s) may be responsible for the maturation and deposition of eggs.