Hormonal Control of Vitellogenin Uptake in Rhodnius prolixus Stål

SYNOPSIS. In Rhodnius, vitellogenesis is characterized by the appearance of large spaces between the cells of the follicular epithelium, a condition which is called patency. Patency is a response to juvenile hormone (JH) secreted by the corpus allatum. JH brings about an increase in patency by causing the follicle cells to shrink, an effect which may be mediated by (Na+-K+) ATPase. Follicle cells which have differentiated in the absence of JH fail to respond to JH with an increase in patency. The follicle cells are also affected by an andgonadotropin from neurosecretory cells in the abdomen. This anti-JH antagonizes the patency-inducing action of JH.