[Role of juvenile hormone metabolism in the adaptation of Drosophila populations to stressful environmental conditions].

The effect of heat stress on the system of degradation of juvenile hormone (JH) and on fertility of Drosophila virilis and D. melanogaster was studied. In wild-type strains of both species, stress resulted in delay of oviposition and in a decrease in JH hydrolysis and fertility, which lasted for several days after heat treatment. Experimental repression of juvenile hormone esterase showed that stress response of the Drosophila reproductive system is determined by the decrease in JH hydrolysis. Fertility of Drosophila strains that did not respond to stress by decreasing JH degradation level was not reduced under stress. The role of JH metabolism in Drosophila reproduction under stress and in adaptation of natural Drosophila populations to stressful environments is discussed.