Ultrastructural alterations of the egg chambers of Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera) developing after reserpine...

In the egg chambers of the wax moth Galleria mellonella L., developing after application of reserpine, a multilayered epithelium was observed through all the developmental stages. This epithelium consisted of "light" cells loaded with intracellular organelles. No "dark" cells, characteristic of the control material, were observed. All cells of the egg chambers of reserpine-treated insects were characterized mostly by an abundance of microtubules, strong vacuolation of cytoplasm, and dilation of intercellular and perinuclear spaces. Moreover, changes, such as malformation of nuclei and nucleoli, appearance of large glycogen deposits, occurrence of widened cisternae and canaliculi of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) connected with lipid droplets, and appearance of nonhomogeneous protein yolk spheres, were noted in the oocyte. The observed disturbances in the ultrastructure of the developing ovary are discussed in the aspect of a direct action of reserpine through the insect neurohormonal system, and of a possible indirect one by an impairment of calcium homeostasis.