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Cleaning insect oocytes by dissection and enzyme treatment
1Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063.
Tissue & Cell
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Lysozyme effectively removes bacteroids from cockroach oocytes, demonstrating its potential as a tool for studying oocyte development and viability in insects. This research highlights a novel method for oocyte preparation.
Area of Science:
- Insect reproductive biology
- Cell biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Vitellogenic oocytes in Blattella germanica are surrounded by follicle cells.
- Bacteroids are typically found between the follicle cell epithelium and the oocyte membrane.
- Oocyte viability is crucial for successful reproduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of lysozyme on bacteroids associated with insect oocytes.
- To assess the viability of oocytes after bacteroid removal.
- To determine the mechanism of lysozyme action on oocyte-associated bacteroids.
Main Methods:
- Dissection of vitellogenic oocytes from Blattella germanica.
- Injection of lysozyme into nymphal instars.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize bacteroids.
- In vitro exposure of defolliculated oocytes to lysozyme and hypotonic rinse.
Main Results:
- Defolliculated oocytes remained viable, indicated by a resting potential.
- Lysozyme injection in vivo removed bacteroids between follicle cells and oocytes.
- Oocytes from lysozyme-injected insects developed into viable progeny.
- In vitro lysozyme treatment largely freed defolliculated oocytes of bacteroids.
Conclusions:
- Lysozyme is effective in removing bacteroids from insect oocytes, both in vivo and in vitro.
- The removal of bacteroids by lysozyme does not compromise oocyte viability.
- Lysozyme serves as a valuable tool for studying insect oocyte development and associated microbial communities.