Entry of proteins from degenerating flight muscles into oöcytes in Dysdercus cingulatus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

Antiserum to flight-muscle proteins was developed by injecting flight-muscle extract into rabbits. Immunodiffusion tests showed the presence of at least 4 antibodies formed against 4 proteins in the flight-muscle extract. During the 4th day of adult life, while vitellogenesis was under way, 4 proteins antigenically identical to those of flight-muscle extract were found in the blood. These four proteins were found in the first batch of laid eggs under immunodiffusion. The possibility of entry of muscle proteins into oöcytes by way of the blood is discussed.