A cytological study of the ovary of Rhodnius prolixus. II. Oocyte differentiation

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Abstract
This investigation presents the ultrastructural changes that occur during previtellogenic and vitellogenic growth of the oocyte of a telotrophic ovary. The ovarioles of a newly emerged adult Rhodnius have their full complement of oocytes located at the base of the tropharium. These oocytes are in cytoplasmic continuity with the syncytial tropharium via trophic cords. The nuclei of these oocytes are in prophase of meiosis I with condensed chromosoes; synaptonemal complexes are visible in many. During oocyte growth the nucleus or germinal vesicle enlarges from a 3–4 μ diameter to a 45–50 μ diameter and the chromosomes become diffuse and arrested in late prophase I. Small previtellogenic oocytes are limited by a morphologically unspecialized oolemma and contain a pair of centrioles, rough endoplasmic reticulum, a few small Golgi complexes and clusters of mitochondria. By the end of previtellogenesis there has been an increase in the volume of the oocyte due to the transport of ribosomes and mitochondria into the oocyte from the tropharium. During vitellogenesis the oolemma develops a microvillous border and yolk precursors are internalized by pinocytosis. Small stacks of annulate lamellae, numerous ribosomes and the other organelles are restricted to the thin layer of cortical ooplasm; the lipid protein‐carbohydrate yolk spheres and glycogen are located centrally. In oocytes not stimulated, autolysis occurs as dense local areas within the ooplasm.