Lipid accumulation in oöcytes of Locusta migratoria migratorioides

Oöcytes of Locusta migratoria accumulate lipids during vitellogenesis by acylation of haemolymph diacylglyerols and by de novo synthesis from free fatty acids and glycerol. This was shown by following the incorporation of lipids in vivo after injecting (1-¹⁴C)-palmitate to vitellogenic females and in vitro by incubation of isolated oöcytes with (1-¹⁴C)-palmitate, (1,3-¹⁴C)-glycerol and (¹⁴C)-labelled male and female haemolymph. Both the lipid and protein components of diacylglycerol carrier protein were taken up by isolated locust oöcytes incubated in vitro. Triacylglycerols were preferentially synthesized in vitro by isolated oöcytes incubated in the presence of labelled haemolymph, while phospholipids were the major component synthesized by incubating with (1-¹⁴C)-palmitate.