Secretion of alpha-ecdysone by crab Y-organs in vitro

The cultured molting glands (Y-organs) from two species of crabs secrete a product whose behavior in several chromatographic systems and whose mass spectrum are identical with those of authentic alpha-ecdysone. It appears that alpha-ecdysone is the only molting hormone secreted by the Y-organ, and that the Y-organ is the sole source of alpha-ecdysone in these animals.