Dexamethasone Induced Changes in Protein Metabolism of Silkworm Larvae Bombyx Mori (L)‪.‬

INTRODUCTION The information pertaining to the effect of vertebrate hormones on invertebrates in general and silkworm in particular is very scanty. A few investigators have made an attempt to investigate into the silkworm commercial characteristics (Thyagaraja et al., 1984, Bharathi et al., 1986, Karthikeyan et al., 1991. Bhaskar et al., 1983) reported that vertebrate pituitary extract influenced the growth, biochemical composition of silk gland and cocoon yield. There was an increased growth rate with shortened larval duration improved silk output and fecundity in B. mori when administer with prolactin. The psychological actions of the glucocorticoids (GCs) on intermediary metabolism include the regulation of energy metabolism. The actions appear to be mainly catabolic in effect, with an increased protein break down and nitrogen excretion. Recent years, the presence and activity of various vertebrate steroid hormones have been demonstrated in life system of insects (Goudar and Kaliwal,1999,2000). The effect of mammalian corticosteroids on insect growth, development and enhanced production has been extensively studied (Smith et al., 1968; Rosinski et al., 1978; Gawienowski et al., 1987). Belakeshan and Ray (1998) reported that a significant increased in silkland weight the treatment of estrodiol.