Mayflies (ephemeroptera), the most "primitive" winged insects, have telotrophic meroistic ovaries.

Abstract

Germ line cell cluster formation in ovarioles of three different stages, each from a different mayfly species, was studied using ultra-thin serial sectioning. In the analysed ovariole of Cloeön sp., only one linear, zigzag germ line cell cluster was found, consisting of sibling cells connected by intercellular bridges which represent remnants of preceding synchronized mitotic cycles followed by incomplete cytokinesis. A polyfusome stretched through all sibling cells. At the tip of the ovariole, cytokinesis occurred without preceding division of nuclei; thus, intercellular bridges were lined up but the remaining cytoplasm between the bridges had no nuclei. The analysed Siphlonurus armatus vitellarium contained five oocytes at different stages of development. Each oocyte in the vitellarium was connected via a nutritive cord to the linear cluster of its sibling cells in the terminal trophic chamber. Each cluster had the same architecture as was found in Cloëon. The 3-dimensional arrangement and distribution of closed intercellular bridges strongly suggest that all five clusters are derived from a single primary clone. The position of oocytes within each cluster is random. However, each oocyte is embraced by follicular or prefollicular cells whilst all other sibling cells are enclosed by somatic inner sheath cells, clearly distinguishable from prefollicular cells. In the analysed ovariole of Ephemerella ignita, two small linear clusters were found in the tropharium beside two single cells, two isolated cytoplasmic bags with intercellular bridges but no nuclei, and some degenerating aggregates. One cluster was still connected to a growing oocyte via a nutritive cord. In all species the nurse cells remained small and no indications of polyploidization were found. We suggest that this ancient and previously unknown telotrophic meroistic ovary has evolved directly from panoistic ancestors.