NEURONAL CONTROL OF POST-COITAL PHEROMONE PRODUCTION IN THE MOTH HELIOTHIS-VIRESCENS

The mechanism involved in bringing about post-coital suppression of ph eromone production, pheromonostasis, was studied in the noctuid moth H eliothis virescens. Mating results in a transient suppression in phero mone production, the signal for which appears to originate in the test es and other components of the male's reproductive system. The mating- induced pheromonostasis is due to an ascending signal via the central nervous system that appears to inhibit the release of the pheromonotro pin, pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), or other p otential pheromonotropic substances, and is not due to a refractorines s in response of the sex pheromone glands to PBAN in the female. A sim ilar mechanism is operative in several species of moths where post-coi tal pheromonostasis has been observed. Sperm quality is not important for pheromonostasis in H. virescens, because males with apyrene or eup yrene sperm elicit similar pheromonostatic responses. The pheromonosta tic activity of the ecdysteroid 20-OH-ecdysone appears to be the resul t of a direct effect on the sex pheromone glands. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.