FURTHER-STUDIES ON DOPAMINE AND N-ACYLDOPAMINE DURING THE PUPAL STAGE OF PAPILIO-XUTHUS (LEPIDOPTERA, PAPILIONIDAE)

1. 1. Level changes of free and soluble-bound forms of dopamine (DA), N-β-alanyldopamine (NBAD), and N-acetyldopamine (NADA) were studied in the haemolymph and wings during the pupal stage of P. xuthus. 2. 2. In the haemolymph, free and soluble-bound forms of DA and NBAD are present only in small quantities throughout the pupal stage. As for NADA, the free form is absent, while the soluble-bound form showed a medium-sized peak at the middle pupal stage. 3. 3. In wings, the soluble-bound form of DA and NBAD was absent throughout the pupal stage. On the other hand, free DA showed a high and sharp peak shortly before emergence, and free NBAD showed a high and broad peak just at the time of pale yellow pigment formation. As to NADA, both free and soluble-bound forms were absent during the late pupal stage. 4. 4. The soluble-bound form of NADA in haemolymph has been identified as 4-O-β-glucoside. 5. 5. These results indicate that the precursor of papiliochrome II is the free form of NBAD. © 1990.