[Autoradiographic determination of the of DNA synthesis duration in the wing imaginal discs ofEphestia kühniella Z.]

These experiments were carried out to determine the duration of DNA-synthesis in the cells of the developing wing discs ofEphestia kuehniella Z.For this purpose the double labeling technique was applied. Larvae of the last larval instar were injected first with3H-thymidine and than 1 1/2 or 6 hours later with14C-thymidine. During the growth phase from the 1st to the 7th day after the last larval moult, S-phase duration was found to be about 12 hours. In the prepupal stage, however, S-phase duration was measured to be 5.8 hours. These results were verified in different experimental conditions.It is suggested that the shift from "long" to "short" duration of the S-phase is controlled by Ecdyson.Cell proliferation within the wing discs is discussed using these data and the known cell counts. G2-phase was found to be variable lasting from 1 to several hours. It is suggested that the growth pattern and the differentiation of the imaginal discs can be controlled by variing G2-phases.