Degradation of
juvenile hormone and reproductive function during
starvation and experimental increase of the
juvenile hormone titer were studied in wild type and mutant D. virilis females incapable to respond to heat stress by changes in
juvenile hormone metabolism and fertility. After 24-hour
starvation, the females of both lines were characterized by a decreased level of
juvenile hormone degradation, 24-hour delay of egg laying, increased egg laying within 3 h after the termination of
starvation, and decreased fertility within three days. Application of exogenous
juvenile hormone also led to a decreased level of its degradation and 24-hour arrest of egg laying. Experimental increase of the
juvenile hormone titer before the beginning of
starvation led to a sharply increased fertility (number of laid eggs and number of progenies) within the first 24 h after the termination of
starvation. The dynamics of
juvenile hormone degradation and of fertility were similar after
starvation and upon application of the exogenous
hormone. The role of
juvenile hormone in the control of egg maturation and laying under stress conditions has been discussed.