Prothoracic gland

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The prothoracic glands are either of a pair of endocrine glands located in the prothorax of certain insects that regulate molting. They have an ectodermal origin and secrete ecdysteroids, such as ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone. [1] They usually disappear in adults. [2]

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Prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) was the first insect hormone to be discovered. The chemical symbol for prothoracicotropic hormone is (C64H102N16O19S2). It was originally described simply as "brain hormone" by early workers such as Stefan Kopeć (1922) and Vincent Wigglesworth (1934), who realized that ligation of the head of immature insects could prevent molting or pupation of the body region excluded from the head if the ligation was performed before a critical age in the lifestage was reached. After a certain point the ligation had no effect and both sections of the insect would molt or pupate. However, implantation of a conspecific brain to a sessile ligated abdomen or an abdomen under diapause would induce molting or pupation. Thus, the brain was originally thought to be the source of the hormone that induces molting in insects.

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References

  1. Gilbert, L. I.; Song, Q.; Rybczynski, R. (1997-09-01). "Control of ecdysteroidogenesis: activation and inhibition of prothoracic gland activity". Invertebrate Neuroscience. 3 (2–3): 205–216. doi:10.1007/BF02480376. ISSN   1354-2516. PMID   9783446. S2CID   2746340.
  2. Klowden, M. Physiological Systems in Insects Endocrine Systems.