Time-lapse film analysis of cytoplasmic streaming during late oogenesis of Drosophila

Cytoplasmic streaming in follicles of Drosophila has been analysed in vitro by means of time-lapse films. Late vitellogenic follicles develop normally in vitro as judged by morphological criteria. Furthermore, follicles (stage 10 and younger) which were cultured in vitro for the same length of time as follicles which were filmed, developed normally in vivo after injection into a host fly. The recorded cytoplasmic movements are, therefore, unlikely to be an in vitro artefact. At early vitellogenic stages (up to stage 9; King, 1970) no cytoplasmic streaming can be detected, but at stage 10A cytoplasmic movements are initiated within the oocyte. At stage 10B, when the nurse cells start degenerating, nurse cell cytoplasm can be seen to flow into the growing oocyte. At stage 11 a central stream of nurse-cell cytoplasm reaches the oocyte within a minute. The ooplasmic streaming is most rapid at stage 10B and stage 11 and only an oocyte cortex up to 7 μm thick remains stationary. Once the bulk of the nurse-cell cytoplasm has poured into the oocyte (stage 12) the cytoplasmic movement ceases, first in the nurse cells and later in the ooplasm. In mature oocytes no cytoplasmic streaming can be detected.