Biomaterial Database

Evidence against the hypothesis that metacestodes of Hymenolepis diminuta inhibit corpora allata functioning in the intermediate host, Tenebrio molitor. 1987

H Hurd, and R J Weaver

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Keele.

Several of the pathophysiological responses made by the beetle Tenebrio molitor, when infected with metacestodes of Hymenolepis diminuta, may be attributed to a parasite-induced reduction in host juvenile hormone titre. It has been suggested that production of this hormone by the corpora allata may be inhibited in parasitized insects. This hypothesis was tested using an in vitro radiochemical assay to compare the biosynthesis of juvenile hormone by single pairs of corpora allata taken from mated 12- and 15-day-old infected and control female insects. The results demonstrate, however, that there was no difference in hormone production associated with metacestode infection. Other possible mechanisms for parasite interference in this host endocrine system are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007605	Juvenile Hormones	Compounds, either natural or synthetic, which block development of the growing insect.	Insect Growth Regulator,Insect Growth Regulators,Juvenile Hormone,Growth Regulators, Insect,Regulators, Insect Growth,Growth Regulator, Insect,Hormone, Juvenile,Hormones, Juvenile,Regulator, Insect Growth
D003335	Corpora Allata	Paired or fused ganglion-like bodies in the head of insects. The bodies secrete hormones important in the regulation of metamorphosis and the development of some adult tissues.	Corpus Allatum,Corpus Cardiacum,Allata, Corpora,Allatum, Corpus
D005231	Fatty Acids, Unsaturated	FATTY ACIDS in which the carbon chain contains one or more double or triple carbon-carbon bonds.	Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Unsaturated Fatty Acid,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,Acid, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acid, Unsaturated Fatty,Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acids, Unsaturated Fatty,Fatty Acid, Polyunsaturated,Fatty Acid, Unsaturated,Unsaturated Fatty Acids
D006790	Host-Parasite Interactions	The relationship between an invertebrate and another organism (the host), one of which lives at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic BACTERIA; FUNGI; VIRUSES; and PLANTS; though they may live parasitically.	Host-Parasite Relations,Parasite-Host Relations,Host-Parasite Relationship,Parasite-Host Interactions,Host Parasite Interactions,Host Parasite Relations,Host Parasite Relationship,Host-Parasite Interaction,Host-Parasite Relation,Host-Parasite Relationships,Interaction, Host-Parasite,Interaction, Parasite-Host,Interactions, Host-Parasite,Interactions, Parasite-Host,Parasite Host Interactions,Parasite Host Relations,Parasite-Host Interaction,Parasite-Host Relation,Relation, Host-Parasite,Relation, Parasite-Host,Relations, Host-Parasite,Relations, Parasite-Host,Relationship, Host-Parasite,Relationships, Host-Parasite
D006926	Hymenolepis	A genus of small tapeworms of birds and mammals.	Hymenolepi
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013712	Tenebrio	A genus of beetles which infests grain products. Its larva is called mealworm.	Mealworm,Mealworms,Tenebrios