Histochemical studies of oocyte development in Poecilocerus pictus Fabr. (Orthoptera, Acrididae) in relation to fat body metabolism
Sahai, Y.N.; Banerjee, S.
Folia Morphologica 32(2): 176-184
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5640 PMID: 6205965 Document Number: 233650
With the onset of vitellogenesis or yolk deposition, which lasts from 7-15 days, the function of the fat body changes from a principal organ for the storage of glycogen and lipids as energy reserves to one for the synthesis and release of major proteins and some of the glycogen and lipids needed for egg maturation. The accumulation and depletion of protein, glycogen and lipids is closely correlated to the reproductive cycle of mated females. In the initial phase of adult life the amount of metabolites is small; up to 7 days, when yolk deposition begins, they are synthesized and increase and from 7-15 days, when yolk deposition is complete, they are depleted and afterwards, owing to non-utilization, they accumulate in the fat cells. The follicular epithelium plays a very important role in mediation of the transport of nutrients from the fat body to the oocyte via the hemolymph. Virgin females, which lay eggs sporadically 7-10 days later than mated females (at 30-32 days) also show metabolite depletion and repletion, but at a slower rate (observed histochemically). Males also show granule depletion from the fat body, but only up to the 7th day, after which only accumulation occurs.