A sex-specific ninhydrin-positive substance found in the paragonia of adult males of Drosophila melanogaster☆

摘要: Abstract The paragonia (accessory glands) of male adults Drosophila melanogaster were found to contain a ninhydrin-positive substance which, judging from its position on the two-dimensional chromatogram, obviously corresponds sex peptide reported by others. content increases as grow in course adult development. Two lines evidence indicate that this occurs only males: (a) extraction free ninhydrin-reacting components different organs; (b) after transplantation genital discs into larvae same sex, concentration was increase. fact also female flies which had received indicates formation is autonomous. No distinct occurrence could be males Culex pipiens and C. fatigans . chemical nature possible function are discussed.