IMMUNOREACTIVE PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATION IN SOME TISSUES OF THE COCKROACH NAUPHOETA-CINEREA (BLATTODEA, PANCHLORIDAE) DURING DEVELOPMENT

The levels of progesterone radioimmunoassay-positive material in the g onads, intestine and haemolymph of the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea dur ing adult ontogenetic development were studied. The animals were divid ed into two groups: group 1 - control males and females reared for a p eriod of 36 days after adult ecdysis at temperature 29 +/- 1-degrees-C ; group 2 - experimental males and females reared from day 8 to day 18 at 15-degrees-C and then at the same temperature as cockroaches of gr oup 1. The immunoreactive progesterone concentration in gonads and int estine of females from group 1 reached the highest value on day 24 and 27. In females from group 2, the progesterone peak shifted to days 35 -38. Females from group 1 gave birth to nymphs on day 36, females of g roup 2 on days 42-45. In males of group 2, a similar shift of the prog esterone peak was observed.