Prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) was the first insect hormone to be discovered.The chemical symbol for prothoracicotropic hormone is (C64H102N16O19S2). It was originally described simply as "brain hormone" by early workers such as Stefan Kopeć (1922)[1] and Vincent Wigglesworth (1934),[2] who realized that ligation of the head of immature insects could prevent molting or pupation of the body region excluded from the head if the ligation was performed before a critical age in the lifestage was reached. After a certain point the ligation had no effect and both sections of the insect would molt or pupate. However, implantation of a conspecific brain to a sessile ligated abdomen or an abdomen under diapause[3][4] would induce molting or pupation. Thus, the brain was originally thought to be the source of the hormone that induces molting in insects.

Later it was established that the insect brain produces a number of hormones, but the hormone which was the cause of the observations made by Kopeć and Wigglesworth was prothoracicotropic hormone. PTTH is secreted by a neurohemal organ, the corpus cardiacum (in some insects the corpus allatum secretes PTTH) which is actually a discrete structure posterior to the brain. PTTH is released in response to environmental stimuli and as its name implies PTTH acts on the prothoracic glands, which respond by releasing molting hormone (an ecdysteroid) into the haemolymph. Molting hormone stimulates the molting process.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ KOPEć, Stefan (1922-06-01). "Studies on the Necessity of the Brain for the Inception of Insect Metamorphosis". The Biological Bulletin. 42 (6): 323–342. doi:10.2307/1536759. ISSN 0006-3185. JSTOR 1536759. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  2. ^ Wigglesworth, V.B. (1934). "The physiology of ecdysis in Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera). II Factors controlling moulting and metamorphosis". Q. J. Microsc. Sci. 77: 191–223.
  3. ^ Williams, Carroll M. (1947-10-01). "Physiology of Insect Diapause. II. Interaction between the Pupal Brain and Prothoracic Glands in the Metamorphosis of the Giant Silkworm, Platysamia cecropia" (PDF). Biological Bulletin. 93 (2): 89–98. doi:10.2307/1538279. ISSN 0006-3185. JSTOR 1538279. PMID 20268135. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  4. ^ Williams, Carroll M. (1952). "Physiology of Insect Diapause. IV. The Brain and Prothoracic Glands as an Endocrine System in the Cecropia Silkworm" (PDF). Biological Bulletin. 103 (1): 120–138. doi:10.2307/1538411. ISSN 0006-3185. JSTOR 1538411. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  5. ^ Chapman, R.F. 1998. The Insects: Structure and Function. 4th edition, Cambridge University Press.
  6. ^ Klowden, M.J. 2007. Physiological Systems in Insects. 2nd edition, Academic Press.
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