Adult ovaries from tj^PL3/tj^PL3 females lack germaria and follicles, and appear to mostly consist of terminal filaments and ovariole sheath tissue. Terminal filaments (TFs) are often not properly separated from one another, forming a tangled mass, or are observed protruding from the ovary and adhering to extra-ovarian fat tissue; and TFs appear substantially longer than in wild type ovaries, with an average of 15 cells instead of the wild type average of 8 cells; cap cell clusters are not detected in these mutants, however, the total number of anterior niche cells is not significantly changed, indicating that cap cells adopt the shape and morphogenetic behavior of terminal filament cells in these mutants. Prepupal terminal filaments in tj^PL3/tj^PL3 mutants are also longer than in wild type ovaries, due to defects in cap cell specification; a majority of terminal filaments in these mutants are not associated with any germline cells, and the remainder typically display no more than 1 germline stem cell. Mid-pupal ovaries contain only a few scattered germline cells or cell clusters, and germline stem cell maintenance appears to be severely compromised through to adulthood.

tj^PL3/tj^z4735 females exhibit morphology changes in cap cells, with the cap cells forming a terminal filament-like stalk. Prepupal terminal filaments in tj^PL3/tj^z4735 mutants are also longer than in wild type ovaries, due to defects in cap cell specification.

tj³⁹/tj^PL3 flies exhibit a decrease in fertility, as compared to wild type. Ovaries in tj³⁹/tj^PL3 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/tj^PL3 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.

Compared with wild-type, tj^PL3/tj³⁹ mutants show a significant delay in border cell cluster migration in the ovary.

tj^PL3 homozygous mutants exhibit severe gonadal defects, but are viable and display no other gross morphological abnormalities. tj^PL3 homozygous mutant testes contain only a few groups of germ cells that remain in a pre-spermatocyte state, as suggested by their small size and the lack of fully branched fusomes. The remainder of tj^PL3 homozygous mutant testes are filled with somatic cells that are segregated from the germ cells, whereas in the wild-type each dffierentiating germline cyst is ensheathed by a pair of somatic cyst cells. In tj^PL3 homozygous mutant larval testes, the association between cyst cells and germ cells is lost. The interior of the testis is filled with germ cells and the majority of cyst cells are located in the periphery, although they appear to undergo abnormal differentiation. All germ cells in homozygous tj^PL3 mutant testes are homogeneously small and have dot- or dumbbell-shaped fusomes, indicating a block in germ cells differentiation. In tj^PL3 mutant testes, the somatic cyst cells, that give rise to the germ cells are not mixed with germ cells, which all appear to be mitotically active in tj^PL3 mutants, as oppose to only those found at the anterior pole, as in wild-type. tj^PL3 mutant ovaries are small, disorganised, and lack mature germ cells, consisting mainly of terminal filaments and ovariole sheaths with widely dispersed nuclei. Germline cells are absent in approximately 26-27% of 1-2 day old tj^PL3 mutant ovaries. Within 1-2 weeks, the number of ovaries without germline cells doubles to approximately 55%. In tj^PL3 mutant ovaries, germ cells form a coherent cluster that is surrounded by a layer of somatic cells, compared to germ cells and interstitial cells forming a mixed population, as in wild-type.

Somatic gonadal structures not clearly subdivided into ovarioles. Males have small testes and no sperm bundles.

few if any egg chambers; early oogenic arrest affected early stages of oogenesis (before yolk uptake).