Endocrine regulations of ovarian maturation in the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis.

The first gonotrophic cycle of oocyte maturation was defined for virgin Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. A high correlation was found between growth of the basal oocytes and increased ovarian protein content. Allatectomy blocked ovarian protein formation, whereas JH-III administration compensated for the loss of the corpora allata. Experiments involving neuro-endocrine surgery and hormone replacement therapy indicated that JH, alone, could stimulate ovarian protein formation; however, the addition of neuroendocrine extracts enhanced the JH effects. The data suggest that both JH and neurohormones stimulate aspects of ovarian protein formation in this insect.