AN AUTORADIOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF YOLK DEPOSITION IN CORTEX OF CECROPIA MOTH OOCYTE

The cecropia moth oocyte accumulates proteins from the blood during vitellogenesis; the proteins reach the oocyte by an intercellular route, are taken in by pinocytosis, and become components of the protein yolk spheres. Different proteins vary greatly in the extent to which they are incorporated into the yolk spheres. One objective of the work described in this paper was to determine where the selectivity of protein uptake occurs. An autoradiographic analysis of the uptake of tritiated blood proteins injected into the hemocoel indicated that there are at least two sites of selectivity – one between the hemocoel and the intercellular spaces of the follicular epithelium that surrounds each oocyte, and another between the intercellular spaces and the yolk spheres. Another objective was to determine if only proteins from the blood are deposited in the protein yolk spheres. Studies of the incorporation of tritiated leucine provided evidence that the ovary itself synthesizes proteins that are deposited in the yolk spheres along with the blood proteins. Finally, evidence is presented that the various regions of the oocyte cortex are not equally active in the deposition of yolk. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.