Note
Oocyte differentiation is a highly complex process that lays the groundwork
for zygote development. Polychaetous annelids show great diversity in life
history patterns and vitellogenic mechanisms (ECKELBARGER 1983). Despite their
importance, few comprehensive studies examine oocyte differentiation from the
oogonium to the mature egg. Most of the broader investigations are relatively
recent. Nevertheless, a variety of fundamental problems in developmental biology
were addressed by late nineteenth century microscopists (see reviews by
REVERBERI 1971; SCHROEDER & HERMANS 1975; HUEBNER & ANDERSON 1976).