Previous studies have shown that the continuous exposure to treated surfaces of ecdysone agonists, tebufenozide (RH-5992) and methoxyfenozide (RH-2485) reduced the fecundity and fertility of codling moth (Cydia pomonella). This current study focused on (1) the effects of exposure length on fecundity and fertility, and (2) the molecular mechanism by which the reproductive systems were affected by these ecdysone agonists. Preliminary results showed that both fecundity and fertility of the codling moth were significantly reduced by tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide after 18 hours exposure. Silver staining and Western blot analysis of both one and two dimensional gel-separated samples from the ovary, hemolymph, male accessory gland and testes revealed that tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide affected the expression of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and its heterodimer ultraspiracle protein (USP) and several other unidentified proteins in ovary and some other tissues. The identification of the proteins that were induced or inhibited by tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide is currently being examined.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Cydia pomonella (codling moth)
Keywords: Ecdysone receptor and Ultraspiracle protein, tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide
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