CYTOLOGICAL AND CYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF OOGENESIS OF POPILIUS DISJUNCTUS ILLIGER (COLEOPTERA-POLYPHAGA)

¹ Deparment of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 39, Mass.

1. The cytology of the ovarioles of Popilius, together with their associated ducts, is described.

2. Cytological and cytochemical studies of the germarium suggest that the ovariole constitutes a modified telotrophic type.

3. Microspectrophotometric measurements of nuclei, stained by the Feulgen reaction, indicate that during The interphase period oogonial nuclei build up their DNA content to twice the diploid amount and that after division the daughter nuclei each contain the diploid amount. The data also indicate that in mature females primary oocyte nuclei contain the tetraplOid amount of DNA.

4. Cytological observations, together with photometric measurements, suggest that the epithelium of the lateral oviducts is an endopolyploid tissue.