Oogenesis in the Indian Earthworm

Abstract

RECENTLY my attention was directed to a paper by Vishwa Nath ¹ on the shape of the Golgi apparatus in the eggs of the Indian earthworm, Pheretima posthuma. Unfortunately, Nath has apparently not seen my paper² on the same animal (Pheretima posthuma), in which I discussed the shape, origin, and structure of Golgi elements and mitochondria as observed in the oogenesis of this animal. Tests with osmic acid on fresh ovary or the usual fixed preparations failed to reveal the presence of either neutral fat or yolk; although in certain preparations swollen bodies resembling fat were found which were later on revealed as artefacts. The Golgi elements were of the usual spherical type with a definite osmiophilic thick rim and a clear transparent core inside. Prolonged osmication made the vesicle blacker. The mitochondria were granular and not filamentar. It is obvious, therefore, that Dr. Nath has completely confirmed my original findings.