Distribution of yolk polypeptides in the follicle cells during the differentiation of the follicular epithelium in <i>Sarcophaga bullata</i> egg follicles

Abstract

In S. bullata, the ovaries contribute to the synthesis of yolk polypeptides. A specific antiserum for yolk polypeptides was used to visualize the presence of yolk polypeptides in the follicle cells during their differentiation. After vitellogenesis has started, all follicle cells contain yolk polypeptides. The squamous follicle cells covering the nurse cells and the border cells lose yolk polypeptides before mid-vitellogenesis, whereas the follicle cells over the oocyte contain yolk polypeptides until after late vitellogenesis. All follicle cells are immunonegative afterwards. In vitro translation of poly(A)+ RNA demonstrated that the presence of yolk polypeptide mRNA correlates well with follicle cell immunopositivity for yolk polypeptides. This suggests that the follicle cells synthesize the ovarian yolk polypeptides. Differences in cellular and nuclear morphology, total and poly(A)+ RNA synthesis and the rate of yolk polypeptide synthesis were shown to be correlated with the presence or absence of yolk polypeptides in the differentiating follicular epithelium. The possible relationship between these different aspects of follicle cell differentiation, follicle cell polyploidy and the extracellular current pattern around follicles are discussed.