Differentiation and diversification of follicular cells in polytrophic ovaries of crane flies (Diptera: Nematocera: Tipulomorpha and Trichoceridae)

Comparison of the ovariole structure and oogenesis between Bittacus cirratus Tjeder and Bittacus planus Cheng (Mecoptera: Bittacidae)

The eggs are subspherical in some species of Bittacidae, but are cuboidal in others. However, the formation mechanism of cuboidal eggs remains unclear so far. Here, we compared the ovariole structure and oogenesis between the hangingflies Bittacus cirratus Tjeder, 1956 with cuboidal eggs and Bittacus planus Cheng, 1949 with subspherical eggs using light and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the ovariole is of the meroistic-polytrophic type, consisting of a terminal filament, a germarium, a vitellarium, and an ovarian pedicel. During the oogenesis, each follicle has one oocyte and three nurse cells surrounded by follicle cells. The difference occurs between B. planus and B. cirratus during the choriogenesis. In B. cirratus, the follicle is in an elliptical shape along the anterior-posterior axis during the late previtellogenesis, but transforms into a cuboidal shape during the choriogenesis. The formation mechanism of the cuboidal eggs is briefly discussed for hangingflies.

The pattern of the follicle cell diversification in ovarian follicles of the true fruit flies, Tephritidae

In flies (Diptera), the ovary displays several distinct patterns of the follicular epithelium formation and diversification. Two main patterns have been identified in the true flies or Brachycera, namely the Rhagio type and the Drosophila type. These patterns align with the traditional division of Brachycera into Orthorrhapha and Cyclorrhapha. However, studies of the follicular epithelium morphogenesis in cyclorrhaphans other than Drosophila are scarce. We characterise the developmental changes associated with the emergence of follicle cell (FC) diversity in two cyclorrhaphans belonging to the family Tephritidae (Brachycera, Cyclorrhapha). Our analysis revealed that the diversification of FCs in these species shows characteristics of both the Rhagio and Drosophila types. First, a distinct cluster of FCs, consisting of polar cells and border-like cells, differentiates at the posterior pole of the ovarian follicle. This feature is unique to the Rhagio type and has only been reported in species representing the Orthorrhapha group. Second, morphological criteria have identified a significantly smaller number of subpopulations of FCs than in Drosophila. Furthermore, while the general pattern of FC migration is similar to that of Drosophila, the distinctive migration of the anterior-dorsal FCs is absent. In the studied tephritids, the migration of the anterior polar cell/border cell cluster towards the anterior pole of the oocyte is followed by the posterior migration of the main body cuboidal FCs to cover the expanding oocyte. Finally, during the onset of vitellogenesis, a distinct subset of FCs migrates towards the centre of the ovarian follicle to cover the oocyte's anterior pole. Our study also highlights specific actions of some FCs that accompany the migration process, which has not been previously documented in cyclorrhaphans. These results support the hypothesis that the posterior and centripetal migrations of morphologically unique FC subsets arose in the common ancestor of Cyclorrhapha. These events appear to have occurred fairly recently in the evolutionary timeline of Diptera.

The structural and functional modularity of ovarian follicle epithelium in the pill-millipede Hyleoglomeris japonica Verhoeff, 1936 (Diplopoda: Glomerida: Glomeridae)

Ovarian somatic tissues typically surround developing oocytes and play a crucial role in oogenesis across various metazoans, often displaying structural properties specific to their functions. However, there is an absence of evident structural modularity in the follicle epithelium of Myriapoda. We report here two structurally and developmentally distinct domains within the follicle epithelium of the Japanese pill millipede, Hyleoglomeris japonica. The follicle epithelium of H. japonica exhibits a thick cell mass at the apex of the follicle. These cells harbor abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi complexes, and numerous microvilli, indicative of synthetic/secretory activities. Moreover, their height increases as oogenesis progresses. In contrast, another region of the epithelium lacks these features. Our findings highlight the presence of structural and functional modularity in the follicle epithelium of H. japonica. We suggest classifying the follicle epithelium of Myriapoda into three types: homogenous epithelia with enhanced synthetic activities, homogenous epithelia with diminished such activities, and heterogeneous epithelia with varying synthetic activities. These findings prompt a reevaluation of the nature of ovarian somatic tissues in Myriapoda as well as in Arthropoda.

An overview of chelicerate ovaries, with special reference to mites - myths and facts

In arthropods of the subphylum Chelicerata a panoistic ovary, in which all germline cells differentiate into oocytes, prevails. Among the chelicerates, mites are believed to show a great variety of the structure of the female gonads. In general, the knowledge of the ovarian structure in mites is fragmentary and patchy. In both evolutionary lines, Acariformes and Parasitiformes, apart from the panoistic ovary, the meroistic ovary, in which the oocytes grow supported by their sibling cells, the nurse cells, occurs. The presence of the meroistic ovary is considered an apomorphic state. Previous studies revealed a various structure of the meroistic ovary in different mite taxa, and the differences came down, inter alia, to a different number and location of the nurse cells in relation to the oocytes. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the structure of the Chelicerata ovary, with special reference to the mite ovary. We also provide our preliminary results of the analysis of ovarian structure in two representatives of terrestrial Parasitengona (Acariformes), Allothrombium fuliginosum (Trombidiidae) and Erythraeus cinereus (Erythraeidae), performed using light, confocal and electron transmission microscopy. The analyses allowed for verification of data published before. In A. fuliginosum we showed the presence of the nurse cells in the ovarian wall, so the ovary should be classified as meroistic. In meroistic ovary of E. cinereus we found that each oocyte is connected to several mononucleated nurse cells. The verification of literature data and broadening the knowledge of the structure of the female gonad in mites, will result in estimating the usefulness of the ovary traits in phylogenetic analyses and will provide the basis for inference about the directions of evolutionary changes of female gonad at lower systematic levels.

Aedes aegypti exhibits a distinctive mode of late ovarian development

BACKGROUND

Insects live in almost every habitat on earth. To adapt to their diverse environments, insects have developed a myriad of different strategies for reproduction reflected in diverse anatomical and behavioral features that the reproductive systems of females exhibit. Yet, ovarian development remains largely uncharacterized in most species except Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster), a high Diptera model. In this study, we investigated the detailed developmental process of the ovary in Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti), a major vector of various disease-causing pathogens that inhabits tropical and subtropical regions.

RESULTS

Compared with Drosophila melanogaster, a model of higher Diptera, the processes of pole cell formation and gonad establishment during embryonic stage are highly conserved in Ae. aegypti. However, Ae. aegypti utilizes a distinct strategy to form functional ovaries during larval/pupal development. First, during larval stage, Ae. aegypti primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergo a cyst-like proliferation with synchronized divisions and incomplete cytokinesis, leading to the formation of one tightly packed "PGC mass" containing several interconnected cysts, different from D. melanogaster PGCs that divide individually. This cyst-like proliferation is regulated by the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway upon nutritional status. Second, ecdysone-triggered ovariole formation during metamorphosis exhibits distinct events, including "PGC mass" breakdown, terminal filament cell degeneration, and pre-ovariole migration. These unique developmental features might explain the structural and behavioral differences between Aedes and Drosophila ovaries. Importantly, both cyst-like proliferation and distinct ovariole formation are also observed in Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles sinensis, suggesting a conserved mode of ovarian development among mosquito species. In comparison with Drosophila, the ovarian development in Aedes and other mosquitoes might represent a primitive mode in the lower Diptera.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals a new mode of ovarian development in mosquitoes, providing insights into a better understanding of the reproductive system and evolutionary relationship among insects.

Quantitative models for building and growing fated small cell networks

Small cell clusters exhibit numerous phenomena typically associated with complex systems, such as division of labour and programmed cell death. A conserved class of such clusters occurs during oogenesis in the form of germline cysts that give rise to oocytes. Germline cysts form through cell divisions with incomplete cytokinesis, leaving cells intimately connected through intercellular bridges that facilitate cyst generation, cell fate determination and collective growth dynamics. Using the well-characterized Drosophila melanogaster female germline cyst as a foundation, we present mathematical models rooted in the dynamics of cell cycle proteins and their interactions to explain the generation of germline cell lineage trees (CLTs) and highlight the diversity of observed CLT sizes and topologies across species. We analyse competing models of symmetry breaking in CLTs to rationalize the observed dynamics and robustness of oocyte fate specification, and highlight remaining gaps in knowledge. We also explore how CLT topology affects cell cycle dynamics and synchronization and highlight mechanisms of intercellular coupling that underlie the observed collective growth patterns during oogenesis. Throughout, we point to similarities across organisms that warrant further investigation and comment on the extent to which experimental and theoretical findings made in model systems extend to other species.

Differentiation of follicular epithelium in polytrophic ovaries of Pieris napi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)-how far to Drosophila model

Lepidoptera together with its sister group Trichoptera belongs to the superorder Amphiesmenoptera, which is closely related to the Antliophora, comprising Diptera, Siphonaptera, and Mecoptera. In the lepidopteran Pieris napi, a representative of the family Pieridae, the ovaries typical of butterflies are polytrophic and consist of structural ovarian units termed ovarioles. Each ovariole is composed of a terminal filament, germarium, vitellarium, and ovariole stalk. The germarium houses developing germ cell clusters and somatic prefollicular and follicular cells. The significantly elongated vitellarium contains linearly arranged ovarian follicles in successive stages of oogenesis (previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis, and choriogenesis). Each follicle consists of an oocyte and seven nurse cells surrounded by follicular epithelium. During oogenesis, follicular cells diversify into five morphologically and functionally distinct subpopulations: (1) main body follicular cells (mbFC), (2) stretched cells (stFC), (3) posterior terminal cells (pFC), (4) centripetal cells (cpFC), and (5) interfollicular stalk cells (IFS). Centripetal cells are migratorily active and finally form the micropyle. Interfollicular stalk cells derive from mbFC as a result of mbFC intercalation. Differentiation and diversification of follicular cells in Pieris significantly differ from those described in Drosophila in the number of subpopulations and their origin and function during oogenesis.

Asymmetry in structure of the eggshell in Osmylus fulvicephalus (Neuroptera: Osmylidae): an exceptional case of breaking symmetry during neuropteran oogenesis

Ovaries of neuropterans are of meroistic-polytrophic type. The ovarian tubes, the ovarioles, are divided into two major parts: a germarium, comprised of newly formed germ cell clusters; and a vitellarium, housing linearly arranged ovarian follicles. Each ovarian follicle consists of the germ cell cluster diversified into different number of nurse cells, and the oocyte enclosed by follicular epithelium. In Osmylus fulvicephalus, a representative of Neuroptera, during consecutive stages of oogenesis, the follicular cells undergo a multistep process of diversification which leads to the appearance of several follicular cell subpopulations i.e., the main-body follicular cells, the stretched cells, the anterior centripetal cells, and posterior centripetal cells. The anterior centripetal cells occupy the anterior pole of the oocyte and in advanced oogenesis due to hypertrophy that transform into anterior fold cells. Initially, the anterior fold cells form a symmetric fold, but in advanced oogenesis, quite different from other neuropterans studied so far, they undergo uneven hypertrophic growth which results in breaking symmetry of the anterior fold that becomes shifted to the ventral side of the oocyte. Since the anterior fold cells participate in the production of the specialized chorion structure, the micropyle, asymmetric structure of the anterior fold, is reflected both in its asymmetric position and in the asymmetric construction of the micropyle. As a consequence of breaking symmetry of the anterior fold, Osmylus eggshell gains dorso-ventral polarity, which is unusual for neuropterans.

Differentiation of somatic cells in the ovariuteri of the apoikogenic scorpion Euscorpius italicus (Chelicerata, Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae)

In apoikogenic scorpions, growing oocytes protrude from the gonad (ovariuterus) and develop in follicles exposed to the mesosomal (i.e. hemocoelic) cavity. During subsequent stages of oogenesis (previtellogenesis and vitellogenesis), the follicles are connected to the gonad surface by prominent somatic stalks. The aim of our study was to analyze the origin, structure and functioning of somatic cells accompanying protruding oocytes. We show that these cells differentiate into two morphologically distinct subpopulations: the follicular cells and stalk cells. The follicular cells gather on the hemocoelic (i.e. facing the hemocoel) surface of the oocyte, where they constitute a cuboidal epithelium. The arrangement of the follicular cells on the oocyte surface is not uniform; moreover, the actin cytoskeleton of these cells undergoes significant modifications during oocyte growth. During initial stages of the stalk formation the stalk cells elongate and form F-actin rich cytoplasmic processes by which the stalk cells are tightly connected to each other. Additionally, the stalk cells develop microvilli directed towards the growing oocyte. Our findings indicate that the follicular cells covering hemocoelic surfaces of the oocyte and the stalk cells represent two distinct subpopulations of epithelial cells, which differ in morphology, behavior and function.

Cell coordination of collective migration by Rab11 and Moesin

Cell migration is an important process involved in developmental events and in pathologies such as cancer. Cell migration can be classified into two types: individual and collective cell movements. Compared with individual migration, collective cell migration is less understood and has drawn increasing attention lately because of its emerging role in cancer spreading. We have recently established that Rab11 is absolutely required for spatial control of Rac1 activity through the control of cell-cell communication during collective movements (Ramel, et al. 2013). Moreover, we demonstrated that Rab11 acts through the control of Moesin activity. Here, we discuss how Rab11 and Moesin could cooperate to transfer forces from cell to cell in order to insure coordinated collective cell migration.

A very simple mode of follicular cell diversification in Euborellia fulviceps (Dermaptera, Anisolabididae) involves actively migrating cells

The ovaries of Euborellia fulviceps are composed of five elongated ovarioles of meroistic-polytrophic type. The individual ovariole has three discernible regions: the terminal filament, germarium, and vitellarium. The terminal filament is a stalk of flattened, disc-shaped somatic cells. In the germarium, germline cells in subsequent stages of differentiation are located, and the vitellarium comprises numerous ovarian follicles arranged linearly. The individual ovarian follicles within the vitellarium are separated by prominent interfollicular stalks. The follicles are composed by two germline cells only: an oocyte and a single, polyploid nurse cell, which are surrounded by a monolayer of somatic follicular cells (FCs). During subsequent stages of oogenesis, initially uniform follicular epithelium begins to diversify into morphologically and physiologically distinct subpopulations. In E. fulviceps, the FC diversification mode is rather simple and leads to the formation of only three different FC subpopulations: (1) cuboidal FCs covering the oocyte, (2) stretched FCs surrounding the nurse cell and (3) FCs actively migrating between oocyte and a nurse cell. We found that FCs from the latter subpopulation send long and thin filopodium-like and microtubule-rich processes penetrating between the oocyte and nurse cell membranes. This suggests that, in E. fulviceps, cells from at least one FCs subpopulation show the ability to change position within an ovarian follicle by means of active migration.

Differentiation of follicular cells in polytrophic ovaries of Neuroptera (Insecta: Holometabola)

Mechanisms that underlie differentiation and diversification of the ovarian follicular epithelium in insects have been best characterized in a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Recent comparative analyses have shown that dipterans evolved a common, specific system of early patterning of their follicular epithelium, while some of the follicular cells acquired an ability to undertake active and invasive migrations. To gain insight into the evolution of the differentiation pathways we extended comparative analyses to Neuroptera, one of the most archaic holometabolan insects with polytrophic ovaries. Here, we show that the follicular cell differentiation pathway in neuropteran ovaries significantly differs from that observed in Drosophila and its relatives. In neuropteran ovaries differentiation of the germ line cells precedes the organization of the follicular epithelium. In consequence, at early stages of egg chamber formation germ cell clusters are not enveloped completely by the regular follicular epithelium but associate with two types of somatic cells: interstitial and prefollicular cells. Interstitial cells do not contribute to the formation of the follicular epithelium, while prefollicular cells diversify into a number of follicular cell subgroups. Some follicular cells remain in contact with the nurse cell compartment. The remaining ones associate with the lateral aspects of the oocyte and diversify into the mainbody follicular cells and the anterior and posterior centripetal cells. In the advanced stages of vitellogenesis protrusions of the anterior and posterior centripetal cells penetrate the nurse cell-oocyte interface and dragging behind their neighboring mainbody cells, eventually encapsulate the oocyte pole(s) with a confluent epithelial layer. The follicular cells in neuropteran ovaries are not migratory at all. They may only change their position relative to the germ line cells. Almost complete immobility of follicular cells in neuropteran egg chambers results in a lower number of diversified subpopulations when compared to Drosophila and other true flies.

Differences in the relative timing of developmental events during oogenesis in lower dipterans (Nematocera) reveal the autonomy of follicular cells' differentiation program

Although the ovaries of Nematocera are of the same meroistic-polytrophic type, they show significant differences in the activity of germ cells (oocytes, nurse cells) and their relative contribution to ribosome synthesis and storage during oogenesis. These different activities result in the different growth rate of the germ cells and may determine the life span of the nurse cells. Comparative analysis revealed that with reference to germ cell activity, two basic types of oogenesis in Nematocera can be distinguished. In the Tinearia type, the nurse cells grow considerably and are active until advanced stages of oogenesis, whereas the oocyte is transcriptionally inert. Conversely, in the Tipula type of oogenesis, the oocyte nucleus contains transcriptionally active multiple nucleoli, while nurse cells probably do not contribute to ribosome synthesis, remain relatively small and degenerate early in oogenesis. We studied and compared the process of somatic follicular cell differentiation in nematoceran species representing both types of oogenesis. Our observations indicate that morphogenesis of the follicular cells is at least partly independent of the nurse cell activity, while the execution of their differentiation does not require direct contacts between the follicular cells and the oocyte.

Structure of the ovaries and follicular epithelium morphogenesis in Drosophila and its kin

In insects, the ovarian follicular epithelium morphogenesis has been intensively studied and best characterized in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. It is well established that initially identical somatic follicular cells (FCs) form a simple epithelium overlying the germline cells, but during oogenesis, they diversify into a number of morphologically distinct subpopulations each responsible for creating specific eggshell structures. In addition, some FC subpopulations (e.g. polar cells) are indispensable in establishing antero-posterior and dorso-ventral ovarian follicle axes and patterning of the developing embryo. The morphological and molecular changes that occur during follicular epithelium morphogenesis in Drosophila are frequently considered as a paradigm of the FC diversification in all flies. However, recent comparative studies indicate that, in dipterans, the functioning of the ovarian follicles is diverse, group-specific and may significantly differ from the Drosophila model system. We discuss the similarities and differences of the ovary structure and follicular epithelium morphogenesis in different dipteran groups and put them into a phylognetic context. We suggest that the migratory activity of the FCs represents an evolutionary novelty that evolved in the ancestors of higher dipterans (Brachycera). Subsequently, during evolution of this subgroup, the number of migrating FC subpopulations has gradually increased from one (in Orthorrhapha) to four (in Cyclorrhapha).

Structure of ovaries and oogenesis in dermapterans. I. Origin and functioning of the ovarian follicles

The ovaries of the studied earwig species (Forficula auricularia, Chelidurella acanthopygia, Doru lineare and Opisthocosmia silvestris) are meroistic-polytrophic and composed of numerous short ovarioles that consist of a terminal filament, germarium and vitellarium. The germaria of adult females comprise meiotic (pachytene) and postmeiotic (differentiating) germ cell clusters, as well as small prefollicular cells. All germ cell clusters consist of two cells that are connected by a single intercellular bridge. In the vitellarium there are usually 2 ovarian follicles only. The individual follicle consists of a transcriptionally dormant oocyte and a single, polyploid nurse cell and is surrounded by a layer of somatic follicular cells (FCs). During previtellogenesis the nurse cell enlarges and becomes highly transcriptionally active. Concurrently its nucleus attains a characteristic, irregular shape. In the nurse cell nucleus of one studied species, F. auricularia, in addition to chromatin aggregations and RNA- and Ag-NOR-positive nucleoli, a single compact DNA-positive body is present. During advanced vitellogenesis the molecules synthesized in the nurse cells (RNAs, proteins, as well as nurse cell organelles) are transferred to the ooplasm via the intercellular bridge. During this transfer the nurse cell nucleus is retained in the cell centre and does not occlude the intercellular bridge. The results of our studies indicate that such position of the nurse cell nucleus is maintained solely by its extended shape. In other words, the rigid extensions keep the nucleus in the cell centre while the cytoplasm flows, in between these extensions, towards the intercellular bridge connecting the nurse cell with the oocyte.