ASYNCHRONOUS OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT IN HOUSEFLY MUSCA DOMESTICAL . (DIPTERA - MUSCIDAE) CAUSED BY DIETARY GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA)

1. 1. Isomers of aminobutyrate and some related compounds were fed in a milk diet to adult houseflies and the effects on ovarian development noted. 2. 2. GABA, in addition to being toxid to the animals, caused a high rate of failure of ovarian development and asynchronous ovarian development in survivors when present at 0·7-1·0 per cent of the milk diet. 3. 3. Other isomers and related compounds were relatively less toxic at levels often 5-10 x that the GABA, caused much lower rates of failure of ovarian development at these levels and did not cause asynchronous ovarian development. 4. 4. A nomenclature has been proposed to describe synchronous and asynchronous ovarian development in the polytropic ovary. 5. 5. Possible modes of action of GABA on housefly ovaries are discussed briefly. © 1968.