Effects of starvation on the vitellogenesis, ovarian development and fecundity in the ectoparasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Abstract

A female‐specific protein, vitellogenin (Vg), and its corresponding egg vitellin (Vt) are identified in the ectoparasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis. Both native Vt and Vg have a molecular mass of about 350 kDa, which is composed of two subunits of approximately 190 kDa and 165 kDa under reducing and denaturing conditions (sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). An indirect sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay developed with both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against N. vitripennis Vt. Vg was first detected in the hemolymph on the 10th day after parasitism, and was first observed in oocytes on the 12th day. In adults deprived of food, the highest hemolymph Vg level occurred at the time of adult eclosion and the highest level of Vt in ovaries was found at 30 h after eclosion. In contrast, feeding adults with 20% sucrose resulted in the reduction of Vt uptake by ovaries and the extension of life span, but had little effect on Vg production. Deprived of hosts, starvation of female wasps had no significant effects on ovariole growth and oocyte maturation before the wasps died. However, starvation of female wasps supplied with hosts accelerated the wasps laying progeny into hosts, but resulted in a decrease of total progeny production by comparison with wasps fed with 20% sucrose.

Molecular cloning and expression of the vitellogenin gene and its correlation with ovarian development in an invasive pest Octodonta nipae on two host plants

“…In line with previous studies (Lee et al, 1997;Dong et al, 2008), the results in this study demonstrate the characteristic female-specific expression of Vg. The specific expression of OnVg in the female adult stage also suggests a developmental stage-specific expression pattern of Vg in O. nipae, which may be attributable to the variation in reproductive physiology resulting from peculiarities in an individual's life history.…”

“…The pleiotropic effects of the Vg gene on various physiological processes have also been demonstrated in honeybees (Nelson et al, 2007). However, in most insects, hormonal regulation especially juvenile hormone (JH) is an important endocrine and metabolic regulator in vitellogenesis, including Vg biosynthesis and its absorption and translocation into growing oocytes (Raikhel et al, 2005;Dong et al, 2008). For example, JH inhibits the Vg synthesis and accumulation in honeybees when treated with high doses of pyriproxyfen (a potent JH analogue) (Pinto et al, 2000), and the hemolymph titer of JH is sensitive to life stage activities such as foraging and reproduction (Robinson et al, 1992).…”

Ovarian development and secretion of vitellogenin protein during the wintering period and after emergence in the hornfaced bee, Osmia cornifrons

“…It is known to be synthesized mainly in the female fat body in sex and stage-specific manners, is secreted into the hemolymph, and then is sequestered by developing ovaries and oocytes (Raikhel and Dhadialla, 1992;Hagedorn et al, 1998;Giorgi et al, 1999). Unfortunately, with the exception of Athalia rosae (Hatakeyama et al, 1990), Nasonia vitripennis (Dong et al, 2008), and Apis mellifera (Wegener et al, 2009), information regarding the correlation between the secretion patterns of vitellogenin and ovarian development in hymenopteran insects is limited. Ovarian development during diapause in Osmia spp.…”

Effects of host (Boettcherisca peregrina) copper exposure on development, reproduction and vitellogenesis of the ectoparasitic wasp, Nasonia vitripennis

“…Polyvinyl 96-well microplates (NUNC, Roskilde, Denmark) were coated overnight at 4 o C with purified monoclonal antibodies against N. vitripennis Vt as the primary antibody (Dong et al, 2008), which was developed following the method of Dong et al (2007) with N. vitripennis egg extractions. Wells were washed three times with TBST (20 mmol/L Tris, pH 7.5; 150 mmol/L NaCl; 0.05% Tween-20) and blocked by incubating with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 0.5 h at 37 o C. After washing with TBST, a dilution series of purified parasitoid Vt was applied to the wells and samples were incubated in the coated plates for 1.5 h followed by three washings with TBST.…”