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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242413
Title: Ant Ecdysteroid Extraction and Radioimmunoassay

Author
item Brent, Colin
item DOLEZAL, ADAM - Arizona State University

Submitted to: Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2009
Publication Date: 7/29/2009
Citation: Brent, C.S., Dolezal, A. 2009. Ant Ecdysteroid Extraction and Radioimmunoassay. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretative Summary: Ecdysteroids are a group of steroid compounds present in many plant and invertebrate species. In arthropods, they function primarily as hormones involved in the regulation of molting. This protocol describes how to extract ecdysteroid hormones from ant specimens and subsequently quantify circulating levels of the hormone. The hormone can be extracted from hemolymph or from whole-body homogenates of insects and quantified by radioimmunoassay.

Technical Abstract: Ecdysteroids are a group of steroid compounds present in many plant and invertebrate species. In arthropods, they function primarily as hormones involved in the regulation of molting. This protocol describes how to extract ecdysteroid hormones from ant specimens and subsequently quantify circulating levels of the hormone. The hormone can be extracted from hemolymph or from whole-body homogenates of insects and quantified by radioimmunoassay.