Inhibition of growth in developing oocytes of the desert locust

Abstract

The location of the terminal oocytes (T) in the ovary of the desert locust dictates whether the penultimate oocytes (T-1) will enter vitellogenesis — as long as the T oocytes are retained within the ovarioles, vitellogenesis in T-1 oocytes is prevented. When the T oocytes are ovulated into the oviduct, growth of the T-1 oocytes (new T) resumes. Inhibition of vitellogenesis in T-1 oocytes is not due to low rates of JH biosynthesis since high rates of JH biosynthesis were observed in animals in which T oocytes were retained in the ovarioles.