On the origin of vertebrate-type steroids present in Locusta migratoria: do they originate from the food?

1. This study investigates the origin of vertebrate-type steroids which were reported to be present in Locusta migratoria: are the steroids synthesized by the locust or are they derived from the diet, i.e. grass and rolled oats? 2. It is unlikely that the steroids are synthesized by locust tissues. In vitro incubations of eleven different tissues with labeled pregnenolone or androstenedione did not result in androgen or estrogen synthesis respectively. 3. Steroid synthesis was also not detected when tissues were incubated in the presence of the early precursors cholesterol and isopentenyl pyrophosphate. 4. It is unlikely that the steroids are derived from the diet. Feeding experiments indicate that only low amounts of steroids are capable of crossing the gut-body barrier. 5. Injection of testosterone in the hemolymph also resulted in rapid excretion, instead of storage in tissues. 6. Moreover, radioimmunological measurements indicate that vertebrate-type steroids are absent in the food of locusts. 7. Specificity studies indicate that substances other than vertebrate-type steroids are detected by radioimmunoassay in locust tissue extracts. 8. Because vertebrate-type steroids are absent in locust tissues, it can be concluded that vertebrate-type steroids do not have a physiological function in Locusta.