Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica
Juvenile hormone (JH) affects multiple physiological traits in insects. In social insects, besides development, JH has been demonstrated to influence caste determination and the production of chemical compounds. In social wasps, JH triggers behavioral maturation, gonadotropic effects, and hydrocarbo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.1024580/full |
| _version_ | 1817975913989537792 |
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| author | Rafael Carvalho da Silva Fabio Santos do Nascimento Tom Wenseleers Cintia Akemi Oi Cintia Akemi Oi |
| author_facet | Rafael Carvalho da Silva Fabio Santos do Nascimento Tom Wenseleers Cintia Akemi Oi Cintia Akemi Oi |
| author_sort | Rafael Carvalho da Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Juvenile hormone (JH) affects multiple physiological traits in insects. In social insects, besides development, JH has been demonstrated to influence caste determination and the production of chemical compounds. In social wasps, JH triggers behavioral maturation, gonadotropic effects, and hydrocarbon modulation. Here, we investigated whether JH displays the same function in fertility and fertility cue production in females of the German wasp Vespula germanica, previously shown in the related species Vespula vulgaris. By experimentally treating workers with JH-analog, an anti-JH, and acetone solvent control, we tested whether JH modulates the cuticular chemical expression (CHCs), the Dufour’s gland chemical composition, and hence the compounds found over the egg’s surface. Additionally, we explored whether JH has a gonadotropic effect on workers. Workers treated with the JH-analog acquired a chemical profile that was intermediate between the queen and other treated workers. Interestingly, the same pattern was also seen in the Dufour’s glands and eggs, although more subtle. Furthermore, workers treated with the JH-analog were more fertile when compared to the controls, supporting the fact that JH acts as a gonadotropic hormone. Our results indicate a similar function of JH in societies of related wasp species V. germanica and V. vulgaris. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:56:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75d2bb01b8854c02a2e5d083fe9156a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:56:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-75d2bb01b8854c02a2e5d083fe9156a72022-12-22T02:28:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-11-011010.3389/fevo.2022.10245801024580Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanicaRafael Carvalho da Silva0Fabio Santos do Nascimento1Tom Wenseleers2Cintia Akemi Oi3Cintia Akemi Oi4Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Laboratorio de Comportamento e Ecologia de Insetos Sociais, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Laboratorio de Comportamento e Ecologia de Insetos Sociais, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, University of Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Biology, Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, University of Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United KingdomJuvenile hormone (JH) affects multiple physiological traits in insects. In social insects, besides development, JH has been demonstrated to influence caste determination and the production of chemical compounds. In social wasps, JH triggers behavioral maturation, gonadotropic effects, and hydrocarbon modulation. Here, we investigated whether JH displays the same function in fertility and fertility cue production in females of the German wasp Vespula germanica, previously shown in the related species Vespula vulgaris. By experimentally treating workers with JH-analog, an anti-JH, and acetone solvent control, we tested whether JH modulates the cuticular chemical expression (CHCs), the Dufour’s gland chemical composition, and hence the compounds found over the egg’s surface. Additionally, we explored whether JH has a gonadotropic effect on workers. Workers treated with the JH-analog acquired a chemical profile that was intermediate between the queen and other treated workers. Interestingly, the same pattern was also seen in the Dufour’s glands and eggs, although more subtle. Furthermore, workers treated with the JH-analog were more fertile when compared to the controls, supporting the fact that JH acts as a gonadotropic hormone. Our results indicate a similar function of JH in societies of related wasp species V. germanica and V. vulgaris.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.1024580/fullfertility cueshydrocarbonsDufour’s glandVespula germanicaVespinae |
| spellingShingle | Rafael Carvalho da Silva Fabio Santos do Nascimento Tom Wenseleers Cintia Akemi Oi Cintia Akemi Oi Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution fertility cues hydrocarbons Dufour’s gland Vespula germanica Vespinae |
| title | Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica |
| title_full | Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica |
| title_fullStr | Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica |
| title_short | Juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp Vespula germanica |
| title_sort | juvenile hormone modulates hydrocarbon expression and reproduction in the german wasp vespula germanica |
| topic | fertility cues hydrocarbons Dufour’s gland Vespula germanica Vespinae |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.1024580/full |
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