Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology logoLink to The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
. 1960 Jun 1;7(3):567–574. doi: 10.1083/jcb.7.3.567

Electron Microscopic Studies on Ovarian Oocytes and Unfertilized Tubal Ova in the Rat

D Louise Odor 1
PMCID: PMC2224829  PMID: 14428301

Abstract

Developing rat ova have been studied with the electron microscope. Special attention was paid to relations of ova to the granulosa cells, the developmental stages of ovarian follicles, and the cytology of the unfertilized tubal ova. The relationship of the oocyte to the surrounding granulosa cells was found to change from one of a simple apposition of the plasma membranes to a complex interdigitation of microvilli from the ovular surface and processes from the granulosa cells extending into the matrix of the zona pellucida. This complex interrelation is maintained until the formation of the first polar body is initiated. At this time no microvilli are found and the oolemma presents a gently undulating outline. Also at this time, a perivitelline space forms and the granulosa cell processes retract. In the unfertilized tubal ova no microvilli are present and the processes of the follicular cells are completely withdrawn. The cytoplasmic elements of the oocyte in various stages of development are described in some detail. Of particular interest is the change noted in position and degree of aggregation of the Golgi complex as maturation proceeds. The distribution and structural characteristics of the mitochondria, ergastoplasm, dense particles, and multivesicular bodies are described.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (2.3 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AFZELIUS B. A. Electron microscopy of Golgi elements in sea urchin eggs. Exp Cell Res. 1956 Aug;11(1):67–85. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(56)90191-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ANDRE J., ROUILLER C. The ultrastructure of the vitelline body in the oocyte of the spider Tegenaria parietina. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 Nov 25;3(6):977–984. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.6.977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. AUSTIN C. R., BRADEN A. W. The distribution of nucleic acids in rat eggs in fertilization and early segmentation. I. Studies on living eggs by ultraviolet microscopy. Aust J Biol Sci. 1953 May;6(2):324–333. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. CARASSO N., FAVARD P. L origine des plaquettes vitellines de l'oeuf de Planorbe. C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci. 1958 Mar 10;246(10):1594–1597. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. COLWIN A. L., COLWIN L. H., PHILPOTT D. E. Electron microscope studies of early stages of sperm penetration in Hydroides hexagonus (annelida) and Saccoglossus kowalevskii (enteropneusta). J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 May 25;3(3):489–502. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.3.489. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DEANE H. W. Histochemical observations on the ovary and oviduct of the albino rat during the estrous cycle. Am J Anat. 1952 Nov;91(3):363–413. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000910303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DOLLANDER A. Ultrastructure de la région corticale de l'ovocyte et de l'oeuf fécondé symétrisé chez le Triton. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1956 Sep 26;150(5):998–1001. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HARTER B. T. Glycogen and carbohydrate-protein complexes in the ovary of the white rat during the oestrous cycle. Anat Rec. 1948 Nov;102(3):349–367. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091020308. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KEMP N. E. Electron microscopy of growing oocytes of Rana pipiens. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 May 25;2(3):281–292. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.3.281. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. ODOR D. L. The temporal relationship of the first maturation division of rat ova to the onset of heat. Am J Anat. 1955 Nov;97(3):461–491. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000970306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. ODOR D. L. Uptake and transfer of particulate matter from the peritoneal cavity of the rat. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Jul 25;2(4 Suppl):105–108. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.4.105. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. PALADE G. E., SIEKEVITZ P. Pancreatic microsomes; an integrated morphological and biochemical study. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Nov 25;2(6):671–690. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.6.671. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. PORTER K. R. Electron microscopy of basophilic components of cytoplasm. J Histochem Cytochem. 1954 Sep;2(5):346–375. doi: 10.1177/2.5.346. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. REBHUN L. I. Electron microscopy of basophilic structures of some invertebrate oocytes. II. Fine structure of the yolk nuclei. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Mar 25;2(2):159–170. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.2.159. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SHETTLES L. B. Observations on human follicular and tubal ova. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1953 Aug;66(2):235–247. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(53)90559-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. SOTELO J. R., PORTER K. R. An electron microscope study of the rat ovum. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 Mar 25;5(2):327–342. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.2.327. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. SOTELO J. R., TRUJILLO-CENOZ O. Electron microscope study of the vitelline body of some spider oocytes. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 Mar 25;3(2):301–310. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.2.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. TRUJILLO-CENOZ O., SOTELO J. R. Relationships of the ovular surface with follicle cells and origin of the zona pellucida in rabbit oocytes. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 Mar 25;5(2):347–350. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.2.347. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. VINCENT W. S., DORNFELD E. J. Localization and role of nucleic acids in the developing rat ovary. Am J Anat. 1948 Nov;83(3):437–469. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000830305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. WATSON M. L. Reduction of heating artifacts in thin sections examined in the electron microscope. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 Nov 25;3(6):1017–1022. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.6.1017. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. WATSON M. L. The nuclear envelope; its structure and relation to cytoplasmic membranes. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 May 25;1(3):257–270. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.3.257. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. WEISS J. M. The ergastoplasm; its fine structure and relation to protein synthesis as studied with the electron microscope in the pancreas of the Swiss albino mouse. J Exp Med. 1953 Dec;98(6):607–618. doi: 10.1084/jem.98.6.607. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. WISCHNITZER S. An electron microscope study of the nuclear envelope of amphibian oocytes. J Ultrastruct Res. 1958 Apr;1(3):201–222. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(58)80001-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. WISCHNITZER S. The ultrastructure of yolk platelets of amphibian oocytes. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1957 Nov 25;3(6):1040–1042. doi: 10.1083/jcb.3.6.1040. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. YASUZUMI G., TANAKA H. Electron microscope studies on the fine structure of the ovary. I. Studies on the origin of yolk. Exp Cell Res. 1957 Jun;12(3):681–685. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(57)90190-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES