1) An ovary of the silkworm larva with genotype
WPR(1) or
wPR(2) was transplanted into the larva with genotype
WPr.(3) It was found that the presence of a well developed transplanted ovary in the body cavity of the moth did not bring about any modification in the color of serosa, formed in the eggs laid by the host from its own ovary.
In a reciprocal experiment, an ovary of the silkworm larva with genotypic constitution
WPr was transplanted into the unilaterally ovariotomized larva having genotype
WPR or
wPR. When the transplanted ovary successfully connected to the oviduct of the host moth the serosa formed in the eggs produced from the transplanted ovary developed red pigment as expected from the genotypic constitution of the donor and was not at all influenced by the host.
From these results, it seems highly probable that if there is a production of “
R substance” originating in gene
R from ovary or other tissues of the moth with this gene it is not a diffusible substance or a gene-hormone.
2) The conclusion that gene
R does not liberate a diffusible gene-hormone in the body fluid is well substantiated by the results of crossing of various silkworm races reported by Uda in 1932. The analysis of Uda's results from hormonal point of view also shows that there is no production of a gene-hormone originating in gene P.
3 ) If an ovary of the silkworm larva with genotype
WPR or
WPr was transplanted into the larva with genotype
wPR the color of serosa formed in the eggs produced from the ovary of the host moth was modified, although the degree of modification was not same in individual eggs. The eggs developed a pigmentation phenotypically identical with that of the eggs of the moth having genotypic constitution
WPR.
In a reciprocal experiment, an ovary of the silkworm larva with genotypic constitution
wPR was transplanted into the unilaterally ovariotomized larva with genotype
WPR. When the connection of the transplanted ovary to the host's oviduct had been established all the eggs coming from the transplanted ovary developed a dense pigmentation in serosa as in the eggs of the moth with genotype
WPR.
The pigment formation in serosa in these cases seems to take place under the effect of a diffusible “
W substance” originating in gene
W. Uda's results of crossing experiments also show that gene
W can produce a deffusible substance or a gene-hormone.
4) It is highly probable that the “
W substance” is produced not only in the ovary but also in various tissues of the body. When the eggs of the moth having gene
W are laid they may have the “
W substance” already in their cytoplasm. On the contrary, the “
P substance” or the “
R substance” may be produced in the eggs only after they have been laid or perhaps in the cells of serosa and the substances are not diffusible from the cells in which they have been produced. Tazima (1939) subjected newly laid silkworm eggs to a high temperature and found that the color mosaics were produced in serosa due to the mixture of the cells with phenotypes
WPR and
WPr. This result supports the conclusion that the substances originating in genes
P and
R are not diffusible.
5) If the eggs laid b y the moth which has not gene
W are fertilized by spermatozoa of the moth having this gene, an incomplete pigmentation takes place in serosa. In this case the “
W substance” may be produced by the cells derived from the fertilized eggs.
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