Abstract
The development of Galleria mellonella larvae is strongly af- fected by suboptimal temperature (18°C). One-day-old last-in- star larvae react to 18°C with the arrest of further development for several months described as facultative larval diapause. The aim of this study was to find what type of changes, if any, in the brain correlate with the larval diapause induced by sub- optimal temperature. Morphological analysis demonstrated the gradual inhibition of brain development. Paraldehyde-fuchsin (PAF) staining revealed cyclicity in the activity of the medial neurosecretory cells (M-NSC) in the larval brain. SDS-PAGE was used to examine the brain proteins of larvae reared at 30°C and at 18°C. The rate of protein synthesis in the brain of the last instar larvae kept at 18°C, measured as L-( 35 S)methio- nine incorporation during 2-h incubation in vitro, was only about 40% of the value characteristic for this tissue during nor- mal development (at 30°C). Despite decrease in the rate of to- tal protein synthesis, suboptimal temperature induced an increase in the level of two major brain proteins: 112 and 84 kDa. In SDS-PAGE analysis, these two proteins appear 21-28 days after transfer to the lower temperature. Whether these proteins are specific for induction of larval diapause of Galle- ria mellonella remains to be further investigated. Arch. In- sect Biochem. Physiol. 38:66-73, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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