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J Exp Biol

Title:		Cuticular hydrocarbons as maternal provisions in embryos and nymphs of the cockroach Blattella germanica
Author(s):		Fan Y; Eliyahu D; Schal C;
Address:		"Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 7613, USA"
Journal Title:		J Exp Biol
Year:		2008
Volume:		211
Issue:		Pt 4
Page Number:		548 - 554
DOI:		10.1242/jeb.009233
ISSN/ISBN:		0022-0949 (Print) 0022-0949 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Cuticular hydrocarbons of arthropods serve multiple functions, including as barriers to water loss and as pheromones and pheromone precursors. In the oviparous German cockroach, Blattella germanica, long-chain hydrocarbons are produced by oenocytes within the abdominal integument and are transported by a blood lipoprotein, lipophorin, both to the cuticular surface and into vitellogenic oocytes. Using radiotracer approaches, we tracked the location and metabolic fate of 14C- and 3H-labeled hydrocarbons through vitellogenic females and their embryos and nymphs. A considerable amount ( approximately 50%) of radiolabeled maternal hydrocarbons was transferred to oocytes and persisted through a 20-day embryogenesis and the first two nymphal stadia. The maternal hydrocarbons were not degraded or lost during this protracted period, except for significant losses of cuticular hydrocarbons starting with the first-to-second instar molt. Thus, although embryos and nymphs can produce their own hydrocarbons, maternal hydrocarbons provide a significant fraction of the cuticular and hemolymph hydrocarbons of both stages. These results show, for the first time in any insect, that a mother provides a significant complement of her offspring's cuticular hydrocarbons. Further research will be needed to determine whether provisioning hydrocarbons to eggs is a general strategy among insects and other arthropods or if this strategy is limited to taxa where eggs and early instars are susceptible to desiccation"
Keywords:		Animals Cockroaches/*embryology/*metabolism Hydrocarbons/*metabolism Integumentary System/*physiology Nymph/metabolism;
Notes:		"MedlineFan, Yongliang Eliyahu, Dorit Schal, Coby eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2008/02/05 J Exp Biol. 2008 Feb; 211(Pt 4):548-54. doi: 10.1242/jeb.009233"