A comparative study of the metabolic effects of hypertrehalosemic hormone and 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana

Several effects of hypertrehalosemic hormone (Peram-HTH) have been compared with the action of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. The data show that both agents stimulate respiration while maintaining an R.Q. of approximately 1. The action of γ-HCH differs from that of Peram-HTH-I in that it promotes oxidation of large amounts of soluble carbohydrate. Recent studies show that Peram-HTH-I has an equally potent stimulatory effect on lipid deposition in the fat body and on the release of trehalose from the same tissue. It is of interest that γ-HCH not only increases triacylglycerol accumulation in the fatγ body but that this effect is more pronounced if the γ-HCH is applied to the ventral surface of the mesothorax. γ-HCH also depleted whole body glycoprotein and glycolipid whereas Peram-HTH-I had no effect on glycoprotein but increased that of glycolipid. It is clear that γ-HCH causes complex disruptions to the metabolism of the insect, many of which are related to the release of hormones. The study supports the idea that certain actions of γ-HCH are mediated through the release of Peram-HTH-I.