Side effects of solvents, especially acetone, used for the application of juvenile hormone mimics and chemosterilants

Abstract

Acetone at a dose of 1 μl was one of the least toxic of 11 solvents applied topically to fifth-instar nymphs of Dysdercus fasciatus Sign., while ctronellal, n-dodecane and n-tridecane at a dose of 0.5 μl were the most toxic. Acetone applied at 0.3 μl to third- and fourth-instar numphs caused negligible mortalities but about 60% of the treated nymphs gave rise to abnormal adults which, although capable of mating, laid eggs which were significantly less fertile than those from treated individuals which emerged as normal adults. These abnormalities could be attributed to a hormonal imbalance. Apparently normal adults arising from nymphs treated at the third instar with 0.6 μl acetone had 35% fertile matings (controls 70%) due to interference in the production and transference of motile sperm. The effects of acetone as a solvent in laboratory experiments could therefore be confounded with those attributed to juvenile hormones.

Peripheral and behavioral plasticity of pheromone response and its hormonal control in a long-lived moth

“…Methoprene treatment increased both antennal and behavioral response to the pheromone blend in autumn but not summer males. This response can be attributed to methoprene treatment and not the solvent in which it was applied (Critchley and Almeida, 1973) as antennal response of acetone-treated and untreated male antennae were statistically similar in all experiments. Insect physiological state changes gradually throughout the period of reproductive inactivity (Kostál, 2006), and the effect of JH or JHA treatment on the termination of reproductive diapause will depend on when hormone treatment is applied.…”

Moulting inhibition inMegoura viciaeBuckt. (Horn. Aphid.) by n-butanol

“…N-butanol causes a high mortality among larvae and not among adults; the abnormalities which can be tone, have been &served by CritchleY and Almeida (1973) in Dysdercrrs fusciulrrs.…”

“…This suggested that the substance was not completely inactive, but had some action of its own. Effects caused by simple organic compounds used as vehicles for various drugs have been reported (Ascher, 1965;Carlisle and Ellis, 1968;Critchley and Almeida, 1973). Since w e used as solvent a mixture of methanol, ethanol and n-butanol, a study to evaluate the action of each alcohol was undertaken.…”

Developmental status of endo-developmental stages ofMicroplitis rufiventriskok. inSpodoptera littoralis(boisd.) larvae topically treated by juvenile hormones I and II

“…To evaluate the effects of juvenile hormones (JHI) [Methyl (2E, 6E, 10 cis)-(10R, 11S)-10,11-epoxy-3,11-dimethyl-7-ethyl-2,6-tridecadienoate] and (JHII) [Methyl (2E, 6E, 10 cis) -(10R, 11S)-10,11-epoxy-3,11-dimethyl-7-methyl-2,6-tridecadienoate] on the developmental status of eggs and larvae of M. rufiventris when these compounds administered onto S. littoralis larvae, each compound was dissolved and diluted in pure acetone (Critchley and Almeida, 1973) to obtain the desired concentrations of 1 or 5 mg/ 5 ml for each of JHI and JHII. These amounts (5 ml of acetone solutions) were applied once onto the thoracic dorsa of each test S. littoralis larva by means of a microapplicator (Heinz Eich Gmbh, Bonn).…”