Alterations in Ecdysone Content during the Post-Embryonic Development of Chironomus thummi: Correlations with Chromosomal Puffing

The ecdysone titer of larvae and pupae of Chironomus thummi was determined by radioimmune assay (RIA) and revealed a concentration of about 150 ng/g fresh weigth in late third instar larvae and a peak of more than 450 ng/g fresh weight just preceding pupation. The ecdysone titer curve shows a high degree of correlation with previously observed puffing activity at the ecdysone sensitive chromosomal site IIIdl. Further, β-ecdysone is the only endogenous ecdysone detected by high pressure liquid chromatography during larval-pupal development. It was also observed that developmentally arrested Chironomus contain less ecdysone than “normal” larvae.