Organization of the oocyte nucleus in silphid beetles (Silphidae,Coleoptera-Polyphaga)

Summary In all the Silphid species examined, the oocyte chromosomes were found to, contract to form the karyospheres. Despite this, as the oocytes grow the germinal vesicles increase also very considerably. Production of numerous RNA-containing nucleolus-like bodies was found to be characteristic of the Silphid oogenesis. Experiments with³H-uridine demonstrated that only the karyosphere actively synthesized RNA, while the nucleolus-like bodies remained inactive in this process.This investigation was supported in part under Contract DPKBN/52/76-II. 1.3.10. with the Polish Academy of Science.