Figure 6From: Immunolocalization of the short neuropeptide F receptor in queen brains and ovaries of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren)The immunolocalization analyses of the sNPF receptor in the ovaries of fire ant queens. Receptor signal was observed in mid- and early-oogenesis oocytes. A: In mated queens in a colony, the sNPF receptor signal was detected in the posterior end of oocytes at the mid-oogenesis stage (arrow, oocyte in follicle number three), but not in oocytes at the late-oogenesis stage in which nurse cells are reduced in size (big stars, oocytes in follicles number 1 and 2). F1, 2 and 3: follicle numbers counted from the calyx (Ca). B: In newly-mated queens (24 h after mating flight), the receptor signals were also detected in a similar stage of developing oocytes as in A. C: A higher magnification merged image of the oocyte posterior end from newly-mated queen ovaries shows a clearly receptor signal (red) in the oocyte membrane, but not in the follicle cells (nuclei in blue, DAPI label). D: The receptor signals were also detected in the early-oogenesis stage oocytes (oocyte size < 20 μm) of mated queens in a colony. E: In virgin queen ovaries, the receptor signals were detected in the early-oogenesis stage oocytes, similar to the mated queen oocytes shown in D. No signal was detected in negative controls using either antigen-preabsorbed antibodies (F and G) or a preimmune antiserum (H).Back to article page