• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2000

Ultrastructure of the zona radiata the micropyle and fertilization process in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were examined by light, scanning and transmission microscopes . The egg micropyle of rainbow trout consists of a funnel-shaped vestibule and a tapered canal transversing the zona radiata. The micropyle showed the type with a flat pit leading into a long canal and the micropylar wall showed the clockwise spiral structure. There were a great number of microvilli secreting adhesive materials having trapping function attracting the spermatozoa in the vicinity of micropyle. It was apparent that ridges extended between the projections. In the initial stages of penetration, the spermatozoon still within the micropylar canal attached perpendicularly at its apical tip to the egg surface, then the sperm head was rapidly engulfed by the folded egg surface with its many microvilli. The spermatozoon disappeared from the outer surface of the egg before the fertilization cone completely retracted 250 seconds after insemination. No interconnecting ridges was present in the egg surface. In short, the block to polyspermy to permit entry of a single sperm is considered to be mechanical by the morphological design of the micropyle and fertilization cone.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 1999

Ultrastructure of the zona radiata and the micropyle of ripe eggs in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), catfish (Silurus asotus) and loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) were examined by light, scanning and transmission microscopes. The egg micropyle of rainbow trout and catfish consists of a funnel-shaped vestibule and a tapered canal transversing the zona radiata. The micropyle of rainbow trout and catfish showed the similar structure with flat pit and long canal. The micropylar wall showed the clockwise spiral structure in rainbow trout. The micropyle of the loach showed the type with a hollow pit leading into a short canal and the micropylar wall showed the counterclockwise spiral structure. There are numerous and various size pores at the surface area around the opening in every experimented fish. Interconnecting ridges were observed in the unfertilized eggs of every fish.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2005

The ultrastructures of the fertilized egg envelope from Hyphessobrycon serpae belonging to Characidae was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopes to get systematic fundamental data for classification of species and to confirm whether micropyle is a common trait of Characidae or not. The fertilized egg was of colorless, transparent, spherical, adhesive and demersal type. There were not oil droplets in vitelline membrane and attached structures in the outside of fertilize egg envelope. The egg envelope had a single micropyle resembling the pathway of sperm in the area of the animal pole. The micropyle was surrounded by 13 to 15 protruded lines of the egg envelope in a radiated form. The outer surface of fertilized egg envelope was covered by reticular adhesive fibrous structures and irregularly arranged by pore canals. The fertilized egg envelope consisted of three distinct layers an outer adhesive fibrous layer with high electron density, a middle layer with pore canals, and an inner layer consisting of 6 to 7 lamellae alternating layers with interlamellae of lower electron density. These ultrastructural characters of fertilized egg envelope form Hyphessobrycon serpae can be utilized in taxonomy of teleost, and as fundamental data for study on early development of fertilized egg. It seems that the morphology of micropyle is a common trait of Characidae

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.96-99
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• 2014

Study on the egg envelope of an endemic Korean freshwater fish, Coreoleuciscus splendidus was carried out by light and scanning electron microscopes during its spawning season. The egg envelope on the entire egg is filled with plenty of long cylinder-like villi before and after fertilization. The fertilized eggs consist of two regions, the attaching and non-attaching parts to stick to the substrates. The villi covering the fertilized eggs have three kinds of villi in its length: 1) normal- sized villi of an average of $10.6{\mu}m$ on the non-attachment part; 2) longer and more slender villi over about $20{\mu}m$ on the attachment part, at least being two times longer than those of the non-attachment; and 3) shorter villi under about $5.0{\mu}m$ around the micropyle, with half the size of the non-attachment villi. The micropyle rotated in a counter-clockwise direction with five pieces of the ridges.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.52
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• pp.6.1-6.5
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• 2022

We examined the morphology of the fertilized egg and the fine structure of fertilized egg envelopes of Poropanchax normani belonging to the family Poeciliidae, also known as Norman's lampeye using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized eggs with narrow perivitelline space were found to be spherical and demersal, additionally containing small oil droplets in the vitelline membrane. Further, a bundle of adhesive filaments was observed to be present on one side of the fertilized egg. These filaments possessed remarkably high elasticity and were approximately 1-3mm in length. The size of the fertilized egg was determined to be about 1.49 ± 0.07mm (n=30). The outer surface appeared smooth, and adhesive filaments originating at different location of the surface of the envelope were found to be distributed around the egg envelope and were joined together to form a single long bundle in scanning electron microscopic observation. A peak-like structure formed of several straight wrinkles was observed around the micropyle. However, the complete structure of the micropyle could not be studied due to the depth at which it was located. Additionally, the total thickness of the egg envelope was ascertained to be approximately12.5-14.5㎛. The egg envelope consisted of two distinct layers, an outer electron dense layer and an inner lamellar layer, further consisting of 10 sublayers of varying thicknesses. Collectively, it was observed that the morphological characteristics of the fertilized egg, fine structures surrounding the micropyle, outer surface, adhesive structure consisting adhesive filaments, and sections of fertilized egg envelope displayed species specificity.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 2013

This research was carried out to clarify the germination characteristics with reference to hard seed coat in safflower. Morphologically, seed coat surface has hilum and micropyle which were evident during seed development stage. In the flower of developing seeds, the hilum area is connected with placenta of maternal tissue while the micropyle area is connected with the style of pistil. When the seeds imbibed, the hilum surface began to crack and the embryo protrudes through the hilum. To investigate the route for moisture absorption and gas exchange on the seed coat, the hilum and the micropyle were artificially sealed by paraffin. The seeds whose hilum were sealed could not germinate, which indicates that the exchange of moisture and oxygen takes place through hilum in safflower seeds. The germination was tested at $15^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $25^{\circ}C$ by three substrates with different moisture conditions; top of paper method (hilum submerged in water), between-paper method, and soil seeding. The germination percentages were 31.3% at $15^{\circ}C$, 15.7% at $20^{\circ}C$ and 6.0% at $25^{\circ}C$ in the top of paper method; and 45.5% at $15^{\circ}C$, 30.0% at $20^{\circ}C$ and 14.0% at $25^{\circ}C$ in the between-paper method; and 80.0% at $15^{\circ}C$, 77.0% at $20^{\circ}C$ and 78.0% at $25^{\circ}C$ in the soil seeding, respectively. When the internal structure of hilum was investigated through SEM, it was found out consisting of vascular bundle element. In conclusion, the hilum of safflower seed was closely related with water absorption and gas exchange during initial germination process.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.13.1-13.7
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• 2020

We examined the morphology of fertilized egg and ultrastructures of fertilized egg envelopes of Ancistrus cirrhosus belong to Loricariidae using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized eggs formed a mass on the spawning place and were yellowish, spherical, non-transparent, demersal, adhesive, and a narrow perivitelline space. But, the adhesiveness of fertilized eggs was disappeared after spawning excluding contact parts. The micropyle with funnel shape was surrounded by 15-19 furrow lines of egg envelope in a spoke-like pattern. The outer surface of egg envelope has smooth side and inner surface of egg envelope was rough with grooves. Also, the total thickness of the fertilized egg envelope was about 32.58 ± 0.85 ㎛ (n = 20), and the fertilized egg envelope consisted of three layers, an outer adhesive electron-dense layer, a middle layer with low electron density and an inner electron-dense layer with grooves in counter structure from other most teleost. Collectively, these morphological characteristics and adhesive property of fertilized egg, and ultrastructures of micropyle, outer surface, and section of fertilized egg envelope are showed species specificity.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.281-286
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• 2005

The ripe unfertilized eggs of Acheilognathus signifer were elliptical shape and baggily swollen toward animal pole. The size of fertilized eggs were $2.19{\pm}0.01$ mm in long axis and $1.85{\pm}0.08$ mm in short axis and oil globe were not observed. The zona radiata of A. signifer had the structure of regular fibrilar net and the diameter of outer opening micropyle was about $2.5{\mu}m$ and that of inner opening micropyle was about $1.5\sim2.0{\mu}m$. Development of fertilized eggs in A. signifer was proceeded in inclining position of animal pole and hatched in 49 hours under $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The yolk sac was absolutely absorbed in 21 days after hatching.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 2017

In the case of genus Nothobranchius, Nothobranchiidae, the morphology of fertilized eggs and ultrastructures of fertilized egg envelopes have been reported in only two fishes. Therefore it is hard for sure to these morphological characteristics show genus specificity because of lower research samples. So, we studied the morphology of fertilized egg, and compared the ultrastructures of outer surface, micropyle, and section of fertilized egg envelopes under the light and electron microscopes from the other two species, Nothobranchius foerschi and Nothobranchius rachovii, Nothobranchiidae to find out whether these structures have the species specificity or not. Both fertilized eggs were spherical, demersal and adhesive, and have a large oil droplet. The adhesive whip-like structures were distributed on the outer surface of egg envelope, and a micropyle located on the animal pole. The fertilized egg envelope consisted of two distinct layers: an outer electron-dense layer with adhesive structures and an inner lamellae layer in both species. The external shapes of fertilized egg and ultrastuctures of outer surface, micropyle, and section of fertilized egg envelope have same structure including results before. Our data indicate that these morphological characteristics of fertilized egg and fertilized egg envelope show genus Nothobranchius specificity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2013

The leopard danio, Danio rerio var. frankei is a spotted color morph of the zebrafish, Danio rerio caused by a pigment mutation. The structural differences of fertilized egg and egg envelope are poorly documented. To clarify this, we compared the fertilized egg morphology and ultrastructures of surface structures, the micropyle and the cross section of fertilized egg envelopes of zebrafish and leopard danio, variation species of zebrafish using a light and electron microscopes. Although the fertilized egg sizes were different, the external shapes of the fertilized eggs of two species couldn't be differentiated under the light microscope. The characteristics of fertilized eggs, such as a spherical shape, a non-adhesive quality and a large perivitelline space, were shown to be related to spawning habit. In ultrastructure of fertilized egg envelope, there is no morphological difference of micropyle between two species. By contrast, the ultrastructure and the numbers of knob-like structures and semihemisphere-like structures per unit area on the outer surface, and the number of lamellae of inner layer on the fertilized egg envelope section displayed definite species specificity. Collectively, our data indicate that the ultrastructure of fertilized egg envelope in the zebrafish could be differentiated by species variation.