Immunocytological Analysis of Oogenesis

Drosophila oogenesis is a fascinating phenomenon. The coordinated action of many cellular processes produces a fully mature egg containing a maternal dowry that both directs and supports development of the embryo. The ovary is one of the best studied organs of Drosophila , and much of our knowledge of oogenesis is contained in several monographs (1 –4 ) and recent reviews (5 –8 ). This chapter describes some of the most important cellular processes of oogenesis, and provides detailed methods for their identification and immunocytological analysis.