Trehalases from the male accessory glands of the American Cockroach: developmental changes and the hormonal regulation of the enzymes.

Two types of trehalases, designated CM-I and CM-II, were detected in the male accessory gland of the American cockroach and they could be separated by CM-cellulose chromatography (S. Y. Takahashi, S. Higashi, S. Minoshima, M. Ogiso, and K. Hanaoka, 1980, Int. J. Invert. Reprod. 2, 373-381). Trehalase activity in the gland showed a rapid increase after adult emergence. The relative activities of the two enzymes were followed separately during adult development. The appearance of CM-II preceded that of CM-I during adult development. Allatectomy and decapitation of newly molted adults resulted in inhibition of the increase of enzyme activity, and in the allatectomized cockroach, CM-II, which is the major enzyme activity in the gland, was missing. Implantation of the corpora allata as well as application of JH-III and the JH analogs isopropyl-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4,-dodecadienoate (ZR-515) and 6,7-epoxy-1-(p-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene (R-20458) into the decapitated animals restored the enzyme activities. The data suggested that trehalase in the male accessory gland was under the control of the corpora allata. The regulation of trehalase activity in the male accessory gland was discussed with respect to its function.