ABSTRACT
A central concern in endocrinology is understanding the coordination of (1) maturation of secretory and target organs, (2) synthesis of a hormone and its release into circulation, (3) synthesis of another factor (in this case, pheromone), and (4) specific behaviors associated with its release into the environment. In an ideal model system, the precise timing of developmental and behavioral events should be well defined, the inducing hormone should be known, and the product of its action should be easily assayed analytically or behaviorally. The regulation of synthesis and emission of sex pheromones in cockroaches meets these criteria.
