The formation of intercellular bridge coating in the hairy whirligig beetle,Orectochilus villosus

Summary The ultrastructure of the intercellular bridges in the ovaries of Orectochilus villosus has been studied. In young egg chambers the inner filamentous coating of the bridge is thin. Characteristic vesicles are observed in close contact with this coating. The inner coating of the vitellogenic chambers is fully developed although vesicles are only sporadically associated with it. These observations suggest that the vesicles are involved in the formation of the filamentous coating.This work was supported by Government Problem Grant MR II, 1.6.4.