A cytological study of the ovary of Rhodnius prolixus. I. The ontogeny of the follicular epithelium

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Abstract
The relatively undifferentiated cells comprising the prefollicular epithelium of the fourth and fifth instar of the reduvid bug Rhodninus prolixus are flattened and contain the regularly occurring organelles, lipid droplets, and aggregates of glycogen‐like particles. These cells transform into the adult prefollicular tissue.During vitellogenesis there is a gradual shortening of the cells of the follicular epithelium and an increase in the size of the intercellular space between them and between follicle cells and oocyte. The follicle cells are binucleate, contain numerous microtubules, rough endoplasmic reticulum, many free and aggregate ribosomes, and Golgi complexes. They are associated with each other by gap junctions. Only the follicle cells on the lateral aspects of the oocyte exhibit the development of large extracellular spaces while those at the apical end, that produces the cap, remain tall and closely apposed to each other during vitellogenesis. The normal morphology of the follicle cells over various areas of the oocyte suggests that shape and/or volume changes of these cell may be important in regulating the access of yolk proteins to the colemma.Subsequent to vitellogenesis the follicle cells become cuboidal and once again become closely apposed to each other. They contain much rough endoplasmic reticulum and produce the secondary coat.