• 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.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.46 no.3
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• pp.150-154
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• 2016

The ultrastructure of fertilized egg envelope from Pseudobagrus fulvidraco belongs to Bagridae was investigated using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized egg was compressed spherical, light-yellowish, demersal, and adhesive. The size of fertilized egg is about $1.85{\pm}0.13mm$, perivitelline space is not well developed, and there were no appendicular structures on the outer surface of egg envelope and oil droplets in vitelline membrane under light microscope. The micropyle was located in the animal pole of fertilized egg. Adhesive reticular fiber was covered fertilized egg envelope. The thickness of egg envelope was about $3.7{\sim}4.2{\mu}m$, and the egg envelope consisted of two layers: an outer, electron-dense adhesive fibers layer and an simple inner layer with pore. Therefore, the ultrastructure of cross section of the fertilized egg envelope showed species specificity, but studies on the other species belongs to Bagridae were need to get correct information about common traits in family.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 1992

참개구리의 난자형성 단계에 따른 난황막의 구조적 변화와 막단백질의 변화에 대하여 연구함으로써 난자형성에 따른 난탈막의 기능적 분화의 가능성을 알아보고자 하T:다. 난황막의 구조적 변화는 난자형성에 따른 미세음모의 수와 모양의 변화로 확인되었다. 그 수가 초기에는 적으나 중기에 증가하고 알기에 다시 감소하며, 그 모양도 처음에는 킬고 가늘지만, 나중에는 짧고 굵어진다. 막단백질은 wheat germ agglutinin에 대해서만 특이하게 반응을 보이는 당단백질로서 작은 난모세포(직경 100-800 urn)와 큰 난모세포(직경 1500 urn)에서 다르게 나타난다. 분자량은 106 KD, 60 KD, 순 KD과 같이 어느 단계에서나 공통적으로 나타나는 단백질이 존재하는 반면에 특히 작은 난모세포의 난황막에서만 찾아 볼 수 있는 130 KD, 125 KD, 90 KD, 28 KD, 26KD과 같은 단겐 특이적으로 나타나는 막단백질도 있다. 이와 같은 결과로 미루어 보아 난황막 단백질은 난자형성단계에 따라 변화한다는 사실을 알 수 있다.

• 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

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 1988

Stmcturai changes at the surfaces of oocytes of Pseudopotamilla occelata were examined by electron microscopy. The oocytes, which grow up to the flnai stage in the same coelomic fluid, once released from the ovary at 5 $\mu$ m stage, change in the structure of the vitelilne envelopes. Microvilli were found to change gready in structure, abundance and behaviour dudng oogenesis. Microvilli are short and bifurcated at the previtellogenic stages and grow in size, but the number increases only during previtellogenesis but decreases during vitellogenesis. Glycocaiyx structures begin to form at the tips of microvitli at the early previtellogenic stages and become more abundant as oocytes grow and remain at the final stage of oogenesis. The tips of microvilli are separated from the stems at the late vitellogenic stages to form vesicles simultaneously with retraction of the microvilli. Vitelline envelope consists of outer, intermediate and inner layers at the previtellogenic stages. However, the inner layer becomes thickened and differendated into two sublayers at 80 $\mu$m stage, - while the outer and intermediate layers remain constant in the thickness. These structural changes were presumably the results of functional differentiation of the vitelline envelope throughout oogenesis even in the same milleu.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

Cortical reaction and polyspermy block are well defined in most marine invertebrates. In Urechis species, the function of cortical granules (CGs) is not yet known, and there is controversy on whether the cortical reaction occurs, or the fertilization envelope (FE) is attributed to CG releases or functions to prevent polyspermy. This study was carried out to determine the cortical reactions and functions of the FE in Urechis unicinctus. Artificial insemination of the eggs revealed that CG release occurred to give rise to perivitelline space (PS) into the final FE. Both PS and final FE effectively blocked polyspermy. The final FE was accomplished within 10 min after sperm-egg initial binding. No massive release of CGs occurred within the early phase of 5 min after the initial binding, initially and the PS seemed to playa role to prevent polyspermy. The CG massively released its content into the PS in late phase of FE formation, and differentiated PS into five intermediate layers. The layers opened into each other by anastomosis, so that the final FE consisted of two layers, the inner layer ($15{\mu}m$ in thickness) and the outer layer ($1{\mu}m$ in thickness). The outer layer derived from vitelline layer and the inner layer consisted of PS and CG secretions. Immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy revealed that the spermatozoon took up residence in the egg cortex during FE formation and successive meioses of the fertilized egg. These results suggest that both PS and final FE of U. unicinctus were equivalent to the early and late block, respectively, of other marine animals.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.343-351
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• 1999

The structures of the fertilized egg envelope from three species, three-spot gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus), pearl gourami (Trichogaster leeri) and marble gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus trichopterus) belong to Belontiidae were observed, utilizing light, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. In all three species, the fertilized eggs were the colorless, transparent, spherical, adhesive and pelagic type. A large oil droplet was located in vitelline membrane of the fertilized egg. The egg envelopes have a single micropyle, which is thought to the pathway of sperm in the area of the animal pole. Specially, the micropyle of three-spot gourami was similar to that of marble gourami which is subspecies of three-spot gourami. An outer surface of the fertilized egg envelope was arranged by grooves in all three species. The fertilized egg envelopes consists of two distinct layers; an adhesive outer layer and an inner layer with high electron density. In conclusion, the morphological similarity of the fertilized egg, micropyle, outer surface and transverse section of the fertilized e9g envelope seems to be an indication of the Belontiidae.