Fig. 3. (A) Cross-sections from dorsal opener muscle 271 reveal dramatic growth of muscles fibres during maturation (a single muscle fibre is outlined in each group for comparison). Muscle fibres from allatectomised females remain almost undeveloped. Fatty tissue (ft) is frequently observed between the fibres of allatectomised females, but not in immature or mature females. (B) Quantification of fibre growth during reproductive development. Cross-sectional area of muscle fibres increase approx. sevenfold during maturation. Allatectomy prevents fibre growth (–CA), whereas methoprene injection reinitiates growth (–CA, +met). Data are means ± S.D.; ^***P<0.001. Scale bar in A, 20 µm.