• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2001

Rana ovarian follicles consist of oocyte, vitelline envelope, granulosa cells, and theca/epithelial layer. Using scanning electron microscopy, the surface structure of each follicular component was investigated. Changes in oocyte surface during oocyte maturation were also examined. Theca/epithelial layer was almost transparent and some blood vessels and granulosa cells were observed underneath in intact follicle. The number of granulosa cells was estimated to be 6700-7200 per oocyte. The granulosa cells partially overlapped each other and their microvilli penetrated the vitelline membrane via holes present in the vitelline envelope and seemed to be linked to oocyte microvilli. After removal of the vitelline envelope by microforcep, oocyte microvilli were observed on the surface of the devitellined oocyte. The oocyte microvilli formed partial clusters on the surface of white spot area which appears iust before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), whereas they were evenly distributed in other areas. The microvilli became shorter and less dense with oocyte maturation. The lengths of oocyte microvilli in the immature and mature oocyte were 1.5 $\mu$m and 0.6 $\mu$m, respectively. The present study suggests a fundamental structural change occurring on the oocyte surface during maturation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2000

Three fertilization envelopes (FE) have been observed after the artificial insemination of U. unicinctus oocytes. The substances of the first fertilization envelope, which is an effective barrier against excessive sperm, come mainly from the surface coat of the oocyte. The secretions of the cortical granules take part in formation of the 2nd fertilization envelope. Histologically, the 3rd fertilization envelope is not amorphous as seen under light microscope, but contains numerous panicles under electron microscope, which would be contributed to harden the envelope by 60 min after the fertilization. With the substantial similarity between the 1st fertilization envelope and the surface coat of the oocyte, and the coincidence of retraction of microvilli and the formation of the 1st fertilization envelope, it is suggested that the microvilli contain the sperm receptors in U. unicinctus. Some granular substances from the distal part of the acrosome diffuse on the surface coat of the oocyte while the acrosomal tubules penetrate into the surface coat. The acrosomal tubules arise from the proximal part of the acrosome and pass through the acrosomal lumen.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2001

The full-grown oocyte envelope of the two spined loaches, Niwaella multifasciata and Kichulchoia brevifasciata, was examined by electron microscopy. The oocyte is surrounded by its envelope, and an external modification (an adhesive structure) in the surface of the envelope is present. The envelope consists of two layers, a zona radiata externa which is the site of the adhesive structure, and a zona radiata interna, which has heterogeneous, electron-dense multi layers. The surface (zona radiata externa) of the envelope in N. multifasciata is equipped with short villuslike protuberances, which have a length of 1.5~2.5 ${\mu}m$ and are separated from each other by a distance of 2~2.5 ${\mu}m$. In contrast, K. brevifasciata has undulating or wave-like structures that extend over the entire oocyte surface. The waves are 1.5~2.5 ${\mu}m$ in length and are separated a distance of 2.5~3.3 ${\mu}m$ from each other.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.252-257
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• 2017

The oogenesis of the Microphysogobio yaluensis was investigated using light microscopy. Various developmental oocytes appeared in the ovary of the M. yaluensis. The oogenesis is largely divided into four stages: nuclear-chromatin stage, peri-nucleoli stage, vitellogenesis (yolk vesicle and yolk granule stages), and mature stage. The nuclear-chromatin is distributed in a large germinal vesicle as threads. The peri-nucleoli stage has many acidic nucleoli lining at the inner side of the nuclear membrane and an egg envelope just weakly starts. As the oogenesis gradually proceeds, they change to the vitellogenesis stage. The oocyte become to drastically increase and the marginal area of the ooplasm is covered with many vacuoles showing no negative reactions with hematoxylin and eosin staining, called the yolk vesicle stage. Many yolk vesicles-owned oocyte largely increase and as the development continues, its ooplasm is changed from the yolk vesicles to the yolk granules of eosinophilic. At the mature stage, lots of granules merged into a big yolk mass, acidophilic. Even at the mature stage, the egg envelope was still thin between the ooplasm and the follicular layer of the oocyte.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2007

The ultrastructure of germ cells and follicle cells during oogenesis, oocyte degeneration, reproductive cycle, and first sexual maturity in female Cyclina sinensis were investigated for clams collected from Simpo, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, by cytological and histological observations. Vitellogenesis occured by way of endogeous autosynthesis and exogenous heterosynthesis: vitellogensis occurred through a process of autosynthesis, which involves a combined activities of the Golgi complex, mitochondria, and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The process of heterosynthesis involved endocytotic incorporation of extraovarian precursors into the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocytes prior to the formation of vitelline envelope. The follicle cells appear to play an integral role in vitellogenesis and oocyte degeneration, functioning in phagocytosis and digestion of products originating from the degenerated oocytes: these functions can permit the transfer of yolk precursors needed for vitellogenesis. Follicle cells might have a lysosomal system for breakdown and might also resorb phagosomes in the cytoplasm for nutrient storage during oocyte degeneration.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 1998

Preimplantation embryos of the rat was examined by the morphological changes in the cortical granule envelope (CGE), blastomere surface, and zona pellucida (ZP) of embryo after cortical reaction. The ultrastructural characteristics and CGE of embryos were observed with the scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscope. In the ultrastructural characteristic of embryo surface, surface microvilli were shortened and the CGE-like structure existed above microvilli in eight-cell embryo. Rough spongy surface and decreased network numbers were key characters of embryonic ZP compared to unfertilized oocyte. The CGE formed by cortical reaction existed in perivitelline space during embryo development but it was thin and locally distributed ill contrast to fertilized oocyte. The present results indicate that cortical reaction forms cortical granule envelope in perivitelline space and causes not only zona hardening, but also ultrastructural changes in ZP and cell membrane of preimplantation embryos.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1999

In order to examine the effect of $Ca^{2+}$ -chelation on in vitro fertilization of rat zona-free oocyte, the formation of cortical granule envelope (CGE) and the rate of fertilization related to monospermy and polyspermy were determined. The ultrastructural characteristics of oocytes were observed with the scanning electron microscope and BAPTA/AM was used for calcium-chelation. The CGE formed by cortical reaction was observed in zona-free oocyte inseminated in vitro and it was also observed in the calcium chelator (1, 5, 10$\mu$M BAPTA/AM) treated zona-free oocytes inseminated in vitro. The CGE developed according to incubation time. The fertilization rate was decreased in the calcium chelator-treated group (59.8, 38.1, 37.0%) compared to the control group (60.6%) but monospermy rate was increased in the calcium chelator-treated group (45.0, 47.3, 50.9%) compared to control group (37.5%). The above results demonstrate that the CGE is formed during fertilization in rat and the extracellular calcium is used in cortical reaction. Also the results suggest that proper concentration of free calcium in oocyte acts as important factor in fertilization.n.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.86-100
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• 1985

A observation of the ovarian development and oogenesis of Pieris rapae Linne has been carried out during metamorphosis using stereo-microscope, light microscope and electron microscope. The results obtained through this experiment are as follows: 1. The ovarian development and vitellogenesis begin at the 3-day old pupa and the 6-day old pupa respectively, and the adult ovary right after their emergence contains a few mature eggs. 2. The species described above are further observed at six different stages in oogenesis, and the results are summarized as follows. 1) Pieris rapae has polytrophic ovarioles. The cell organelles of the nurse cells are transfered to the oocyte through the ring canal at the early oogenesis. 2) At stage 2, the nuclear envelope of oocyte nucleus is less infolding than that of nurse cell nucleus. In the oocyte cytoplasm a large number of ribosomes are observed. 3) At stage 3 and 4, many micropinocytotic vesicles are observed in the oocyte cytoplasm. These vesicles are fused together to form large proteid yolks. 4) At stage 5, the vitelline membrane is laid down in the intercellular space between the follicle cells and oocyte. 5) At stage 6, the chorion is formed by the follicle cells. 6) A micropyle and a number of aeropyle are observed on the surface of a mature egg.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 1994

Drastic changes were observed in egg chamber during oogenesis of Aedes togoi immediately after blood meal. The egg chamber, in which the oocyte remains at previtellogenic stage before blood meal, shows very little change in size even for 3 days after emergence but increased 25 folds in volume within 60 hours after blood meal, presumably due to rapid yolk formation. Upto 6 hours after blood meal structures considered to be the precursor of the yolk granules were not observed in the space between follicle cells and oocyte. Vitelline bodies, which are similar to dense bodies secreted from follicle cells, appeared in the space at 10 hours after blood meal. Although vitelline bodies were fused to form vitelline layer, these bodies seem to contribute to the formation of yolk granules. Nurse cells are connected to oocytes by cytoplasmic bridge before blood meal, but the cells are absorbed into oocyte at 6 hours after blood meal.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2000

The observation using an electron microscope shows that the maturation of the oocyte of African giant snail, Achatina fulica, proceeds over three stages. The oocyte of stage 1 is a small elliptic cell $(220\times400{\mu}m)$ whose light nucleoplasm contains two nucleoli. In its cytoplasm, a number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticula, and ribosomes are found, while yolk granules are not. The nucleus of the oocyte of stage 2 is relatively large in comparison with the volume of cytoplasm, and contains one nucleolus. In the nuclear envelope comprising inner and outer double membrane, there are found a lot of nuclear pores for materials to pass through. A number of mitochondria, Golgi complex and lipid yolk granules appears in the cytoplasm, and proteinous yolk granules begin to form and mature in the vacuoles of various sizes ($0.8\sim3.0{\mu}m$ in diameter). The oocyte of stage 3 has an enlarged nucleolus. Material transportation through nuclear pore is not found any longer. The cytoplasm in this stage is filled with proteinous and lipid yolk granules. The microvilli are developed around the egg plasma membrane.