These vacuoles, which originate from the endoplasmic reticulum, also contain large acidic compartments are thought to aid in cellular degeneration. Hypervacuolation is a common feature in cells that undergo an autophagic, or "self-eating" death. Bacteriocytes, however, do not experience an autophagic death based on the lack of digested cellular components in the vacuoles.
These vacuoles, originating from the endoplasmic reticulum, contain large acidic compartments that are thought to facilitate cellular breakdown and are associated with autophagy, a process where cells self-destruct. However, bacteriocytes do not undergo this type of cell death because their vacuoles lack digested cellular components.