juvenile hormone (neotenin) A hormone, released by the corpora allata, which regulates the form of larvae after each moult. Juvenile hormone brings about the retention of juvenile characteristics in developing insects, but has other functions in adults (e.g. it may be required for the proper development of reproductive organs and for the deposition of yolk in eggs).

juvenile hormone A hormone secreted by insects from a pair of endocrine glands (corpora allata) close to the brain. It inhibits metamorphosis and maintains the presence of larval features.