Juvenile hormone signaling in insect oogenesis

Abstract

Juvenile hormone (JH) plays a crucial role in insect reproduction, but its molecular mode of action only became clear within the last decade. We here review recent findings revealing the intricate crosstalk between JH and ecdysone signaling with nutrient sensing pathways in Drosophila melanogaster, Aedes aegypti, Tribolium castaneum and Locusta migratoria. The finding for a critical role of ecdysis triggering hormone (ETH) in both molting and ooogenesis now also highlights the importance of an integrated view of development and reproduction. Furthermore, insights from non-model insects, especially so social Hymenoptera and termites, where JH function gradually becomes decoupled from reproduction and plays a role in division of labor, emphasize the need to consider life cycle and life history strategies when studying insect reproductive physiology.