ENHANCEMENT OF OOCYTE GROWTH IN THE COCKROACH BLABERUS CRANIIFER BY ASCORPION TOXIN, CHARYBDOTOXIN

We investigated the ovarian response of Blaberus craniifer to charybdo toxin in both imaginal molt headless females and isolated fed females, at three criteria. 1 - Vitelogenesis onset, detected by immunocytoche mical localisation of sites binding anti-eggs antibodies in the basal oocyte in headless females: 60% of treated females present a positive response. 2 - Oocyte length at D4 during vitellogenesis of isolated fe d females which was enhanced by 0.1-0.2 mu g toxin; doses higher than 0.5 mu g/female decrease ovarian growth. 3 - Time of oviposition of pa ired females which was shortened by 24 hrs by the toxin. These results suggest that low doses charybdotoxin enhance vitellogenesis, possibly via the nervous system by means of a substance conditioning both prot ein synthesis by the fat body and ovarian uptake.