| Abstract: | A large extrachromosomal mass of Feulgen positive material, the DNA body, has been visualized in early prophase oocytes of crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) representative of the closely related subfamilies Gryllinae and Nemobiinae. A similar structure is present in oocytes of representatives of two subfamilies of crickets (subfamilies Oecanthinae and Gryllotalpinae) which taxonomically and phylogenetically are quite separate from those mentioned previously. In situ hybridization demonstrates that the body contains amplified copies of genes coding for ribosomal RNA. Unlike the DNA body in early diplotene oocytes of representatives of the subfamily Gryllinae, which is closely associated with the developing nucleolar apparatus, the DNA body in oocytes of the Oecanthinae and Gryllotalpinae cannot be demonstrated during diplotene. In the Oecanthinae, the nucleolar apparatus of early diplotene stage oocytes is composed of four to seven separate structures, the ribonucleoprotein of which has a characteristically lamellated appearance. During late diplotene, these nucleoli give rise to many smaller structures which are distributed throughout the germinal vesicle. In early diplotene stage oocytes of Scapteriscus acletus (Subfamily: Gryllotalpinae), the nucleolar apparatus consists of a single compact mass of ribonucleoprotein. In contrast to the oocytes of all other crickets that have been studied, the nucleolus of S. acletus remains single throughout diplotene. In situ hybridization analysis indicates that the amplified genes coding for rRNA which are localized in the DNA body of early prophase oocytes become incorporated into this compact nucleolar mass. Differences in nucleolar structure appear to reflect differences in the organization of amplified genes coding for rRNA. |
