Larvalentwicklung transplantierter Organe von Drosophila melanogaster im Adultmilieu

Abstract

Head segments of newly hatched larvae of Drosophila melanogaster were implanted into the abdomens of adult females in order to study the development of larval and imaginal organs. These experiments were done in three series: (A) implants which retain their own brain and ring gland in inseminated female hosts and implants without brain and ring gland either in inseminated females (B) or in virgin hosts (C).

The growth intensity of the larval organs while in the adult environment is similar in series A and B, but each is significantly greater than in series C. However, in all three series the organs studied attained a similar stage in form and size like corresponding organs in the prepupae in situ. This growth is followed in many cases by the histolysis of the salivary glands and by deposition of pigment in the ommatidial area of the eye disk. The more intense growth of the implanted organs in inseminated hosts as compared to those in virgin female hosts is attributed to the different protein metabolism of these hosts.