抄録
Testes obtained from the last instar larvae and the diapausing pupae of the Mamestra brassicae were cultivated in GRACE's medium containing α-ecdysone. Alpha-ecdysone was effective for the precocious maturation of the testes from the 6-day-old last instar larvae. When "naked" spermatocysts were co-cultured with intact or ruptured testis, or were cultivated in the "pre-conditioning medium", they underwent spermiogenesis. Disc electrophoretic analysis showed that two major protein bands were obtained from the medium after cultivation. Similar patterns of protein bands were also detected from the supernatant of homogenates of testes, or from the culture medium after cultivation of the ruptured testes for 6 days. It was suggested that these proteins were originated from testis wall. The role of the testis proteins in spermiogenesis in vitro is discussed.
