abnormal size | adult stage (with tjPL3)
semi-fertile (with tjPL3)
germarium | adult stage (with tjPL3)
ovary | adult stage (with tjPL3)
Ovaries in tj39/tj39 females are functional and grossly normal, as compared to wild type.
tj39/tjPL3 flies exhibit a decrease in fertility, as compared to wild type. Ovaries in tj39/tjPL3 females exhibit largely normal ovarioles with germaria and developing follicles, but develop unusually pear-shaped germaria with age, and show abnormal interfollicular stalks. Terminal filaments in these ovaries are abnormally long, and in many cases, the cap cells are disc-shaped and are integrated into the terminal filament; the total number of anterior niche cells, however, does not significantly change, indicating that cap cells adopt the shape and morphogenetic behavior of terminal filament cells in these mutants. The germaria in tj39/tjPL3 females are often unusually narrow and harbor only 1-2 germline stem cells instead of the normal 2-3 in wild type germaria. In mutant germaria wherein all cap cells have adopted a more terminal filament cell-like shape, there is typically only a single germline stem cell, and this GSC produces an unusually long cellular protrusion that reaches far into the terminal filament, allowing it to contact at least 2 cap cells. Germline stem cells otherwise appear to be correctly maintained in these mutants.
