Summary
In the ovoviviparous fly, Sarcophaga bullata, vitellogenesis is cyclic; a process reflected in ultrastructural changes in the fat body cells and oenocytes. At eclosion the larval fat body has not yet completely disappeared. During vitellogenesis the fat body cells are specialized for intensive protein synthesis showing a very extensive RER and numerous invaginations of the plasma membrane. These features disappear when the eggs descend into the oviducts to complete embryogenesis. The predominant feature of the oenocytes is their very prominent SER. The fat body cells of the males are never as specialized for protein synthesis as those of the females. Feeding of ecdysterone to males for 3 or more days induces a rather extensive subcellular apparatus for protein synthesis, i.e., invaginations of the plasma membrane and an extensive RER. Juvenile hormone is completely ineffective in this respect. Both ecdysterone and juvenile hormone have pronounced but different effects on the oenocytes of males.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baxter JA, Mjeni AM, Morrison PE (1973) Expression of autogeny in relation to larval population density of Sarcophaga bullata Parker (Diptera, Sarcophagidae). Can J Zool 51:1189–1193
Behan M, Hagedorn HH (1978) Ultrastructural changes in the fat body of adult female Aedes aegypti in relationship to vitellogenin synthesis. Cell Tissue Res 186:499–506
Briers T, De Loof A (1980) The moulting hormone activity in Sarcophaga bullata in relation to metamorphosis and reproduction. Int J Invertebr Reprod 2:363–372
Briers T, De Loof A (1981a) Moulting hormone activity in the adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, in relation to reproduction and diapause. Int J Invertebr Reprod 3:145–155
Briers T, De Loof A (1981b) Ecdysteroid activity in the adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say. Vth Ecdysone Workshop, May 3–6 1981, Gurten/Berne
Bullière D, Bullière F, de Reggi M (1979) Ecdysteroid titres during ovarian and embryonic development in Blaberus craniifer. Wilhelm Roux' Arch 186:103–114
De Loof A, Lagasse A (1970) Juvenile hormone and the ultrastructural properties of the fat body of the adult Colorado beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say. Z Zellforsch 106:439–450
De Loof A, Huybrechts R, Briers T (1980) Do insects have sex hormones and do compounds with juvenile hormone activity occur in vertebrates? Ann Soc Zool Belg 110:179–184
De Loof A, Briers T, Huybrechts R, Peferoen M, Stoppie P, Stynen D (1981) Hormones, ion pumps and control of gene expression. The cell as a miniature electrophoresis chamber? Ann Soc Zool Belg (in press)
Flanagan TR, Hagedorn HH(1977) Vitellogenin synthesis in the mosquito: the role of juvenile hormone in the development of responsiveness to ecdysone. Physiol Entomol 2:173–178
Huybrechts R, De Loof A (1977) Induction of vitellogenin synthesis in male Sarcophaga bullata by ecdysterone. J Insect Physiol 23:1359–1362
Huybrechts R, De Loof A (1981) Effect of ecdysterone on vitellogenin concentration in haemolymph of male and female Sarcophaga bullata. Int J Invertebr Reprod 3:157–168
Jacob F, Monod J (1961) Genetic regulatory mechanisms in the synthesis of proteins. J Mol Biol 3:318–356
Pappas C, Fraenkel G (1977) Nutritional aspects of oogenesis in the flies Phormia regina and Sarcophaga bullata. Physiol Zool 5:237–246
Rankin MA, Jäckle HJ (1980) Hormonal control of vitellogenin synthesis in Oncopeltus fasciatus. J Insect Physiol 26:671–684
Romer F, Emmerich H, Nowock J (1974) Biosynthesis of ecdysones in isolated prothoracic glands and oenocytes of Tenebrio molitor in vitro. J Insect Physiol 20:1975–1987
Sandor T, Mehdi AF (1979) Steroids and Evolution. In: Barrington JEW (ed) Hormones and Evolution Academic Press, London New York, pp 1–72
Thomsen E, Thomsen M (1974) Fine structure of the fat body of the female of Calliphora erythrocephala during the first egg maturation cycle. Cell Tissue Res 152:193–217
Thomsen E, Thomsen M (1978) Production of specific protein secretion granules by fat body cells of the blowfly, Calliphora erythrocephala. Cell Tissue Res 193:25–33
Wilkens JL (1968) The endocrine and nutritional control of egg maturation in the fleshfly Sarcophaga bullata. J Insect Physiol 14:927–944
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stoppie, P., Briers, T., Huybrechts, R. et al. Moulting hormone, juvenile hormone and the ultrastructure of the fat body of adult Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera). Cell Tissue Res. 221, 233–244 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216728
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216728