Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor and Transcription Factor in the Reproductive Capacity of Males.

This study focuses on the regulatory effects of genes encoding the juvenile hormone (JH) receptor methoprene-tolerant () and transcription factor krüppel homolog 1 () on the reproductive capacity of male adults. and expression levels were analyzed in males fed on artificial diets with and without JH by quantitative real-time PCR, and the effects of and on male reproduction were analyzed by RNA interference technology. transcription levels in 5- and 10-day-old males fed with a JH-supplemented diet were lower than those without JH. expression in 5-day-old adult males was lower in diets lacking JH but was higher in 10-day-old males fed on a diet lacking JH. There were no significant differences in the testes sizes of male ladybugs injected with -dsRNA when compared to -dsRNA; however, the testis volume of ladybugs injected with -dsRNA was smaller than those injected with -dsRNA. After males were injected with -dsRNA and -dsRNA, the mean egg production by females decreased by 12.75% and 23.10%, respectively, at 20 d postinjection. Our results show that and have important roles in regulating reproduction by directly affecting testes development in males and egg production in females.