Synthesis and release of hydrocarbons by the oenocytes of the desert locust, <i>Schistocerca gregaria</i>

When incubated <i>in vitro</i>, the oenocytes in the peripheral fat body of the desert locust incorporate Na-¹⁴C-acetate into hydrocarbons (paraffins). The presence of haemolymph in the incubation medium greatly stimulates the release of the ¹⁴C-hydrocarbons into the medium. The labelled hydrocarbons appear to be rapidly released by the cells into the incubation medium as a function of time provided that haemolymph is present. The fact that the oenocytes not only synthesize 14C-hydrocarbons but also release them into the medium supports the hypothesis that the oenocytes of the desert locust synthesize cuticle lipids.