Spermatogenesis in cultured testes of the cynthia silkworm: effects of ecdysone and of prothoracic glands.

In vitro spermatogenesis takes place when intact testes are cultured in blood plasma containing ecdysone or certain other steroids possessing ecdysone activity. The ecdysone requirement can be satisfied by culturing the testes in the presence of living, active prothoracic glands. The most likely explanation of these results is that the prothoracic glands constitute the principal source of ecdysone.