Studies on locust hypolipaemic hormone

A hypolipaemic factor of Locusta migratoria has been localized in the lateral protocerebrum, storage lobe of the corpus cardiacum and in the midgut. The same molecule is found in each tissue. The molecule has an apparent molecular weight of 1000 and is present in the haemolymph after feeding. Insulin mimics the effect of the hormone. The B chain of insulin possesses similar hypolipaemic activity. Peptide fragments from the carboxyl terminal end of the insulin B chain are without activity. It is presumed that the locust hypolipaemic factor is similar to the amino terminal end of the B chain of insulin. The hypolipaemic factor is found in and released from, a neurohaemal organ and is found in the haemolymph. These data justify the recognition of the factor as a hormone. The similarity in the effect of insulin and the neurohaemal origin of the hormone argue that it is peptidergic in nature.