There is a complete absence of information about the endocrinology of Droso
phila melanogaster in relation to genetic-based differential longevity in t
his model species. In the present study, aspects of the endocrine system of
D. melanogaster were investigated in selected and control lines characteri
zed by relative differences in life span. By using extracts from whole bodi
es, steroid hormone (ecdysteroid) titers were determined by radioimmunoassa
y in all replicate selected and control lines on the first and fourth day o
f adult life. The results suggest that ecdysteroid titers were relatively r
educed on the first day post-eclosion in females from the long-lived lines,
but this difference was not present on the fourth day posteclosion. The re
duction in early-age ecdysteroid titers in long-lived females might be rela
ted to the decrease in early-age fecundity in the selected lines. There was
no difference between line types in male ecdysteroid titers on either day
posteclosion. Two classes of enzymes that act on juvenile hormone were also
investigated in the present study. Esterase and epoxide hydrolase activity
on juvenile hormone was assessed in females in all replicate selected and
control lines at approximately 12 h or 4 days pot-eclosion. There was no di
fference between selected and control lines in the specific activity of eit
her class of enzymes that metabolize juvenile hormone. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc
ience Inc. All rights reserved.