Mitochondrial and other ultrastructural changes in the developing Habrobracon embryo

Cells of the wasp, Habrobracon juglandis , were studied by electron microscopy with the view to comparing ultrastructural changes, especially those found in mitochondria, that occur during the first two-thirds of the 29 h embryonic period. In 1- to 2-h embryos (the earliest studied) mitochondria are distributed principally in the periplasm and typically are arranged in clumps with their long axes parallel to each other. Based on a study of profiles occurring in thin sections, most appear to be elongate with poorly developed cristae, have dense matrices and are longer than those of later stages. At 3–4 h of age, in incipient blastoderm cells, the mitochondria are distributed throughout the cytoplasm with 40% located lateral to the nuclei and 42 % concentrated in a subnuclear position. Most (81 %) exhibit spherical profiles, with well-developed cristae and less dense matrices than those found at earlier ages. In fully formed blastodermal cells (7–8 h), mitochondria are similar morphologically except that a lower percentage (53 %) are spherical; almost half (48 %) have migrated to a supranuclear location. In early gastrula cells (11–12 h) no significant variations from the blastoderm condition were apparent. Mitochondria in the oldest cells studied (18–19 h) show somewhat greater structural complexity and variability. The number per cell section is drastically reduced compared to earlier ages, but this, at least in part, is related to a reduction in cell size. Changes observed in other cellular constituents are also described. Comparisons are made with similar variations reported in other developing organisms and their possible significance is discussed.