1979 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 28-32
A strong sex pheromone activity was demonstrated in the ethereal extract of KOH-treated hemolymph of silkworm female pupae. No activity, however, was demonstrated in the untreated hemolymph extract. Such findings suggest that Bombykol or its precursor is accumulated in an inactive form bound to protein in the pupal hemolymph. Changes in the pheromonal activity during the female pupal period were observed both in the hemolymph and in the phromone-producing organ, the alluring gland. The activity in the hemolymph which appeared 4 days before the emergence of adult reached maximum value after 2 days, but the activity in the alluring gland began to increase on the day before emergence. It was concluded that Bombykol or its precursor which was present in an inactive form bound to a protein in the hemolymph was transported to and accumulated in the alluring organ at the end of the pupal period.
