Ultrastructural changes in nurse and follicle cells during late stages of oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary During stages 11 and 12, follicle cells surrounding the nurse cells produce lysosomes which presumably aid in the breakdown of the nurse cells. Accompanying a DNA reduction in nurse cell nuclei are several characteristic morphological changes including the appearance of intranuclear rod-like structures and nuclear granules about 300 Å in diameter. Similarities between structures seen in Drosophila nurse cell nuclei and those seen in other organisms are discussed.This research was supported by U. S. Public Health Service Grants 5TIGM903-3 and 1-F1-GM-33, 385-01 and National Science Foundation grant GB-7457.