Summary
Changes in glycoconjugates of the zona pellucida induced by maturation, ovulation and fertilization of mouse oocytes have been studied by means of light microscopic methods of cytochemistry. These methods consisted of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian Blue pH 1.0 and pH 2.5, and peroxidase-labelled lectin diaminobenzidine (PO—LT—DAB) procedures in combination with the digestion technique with neuraminidase. According to the results obtained, glycoconjugates of the zona pellucida of fertilized eggs contained a smaller amount of sulphate groupings than that in ovarian oocytes, whereas their reactions for sialic acid and fucose residues were significantly stronger in intensity in the former, as compared with those in the latter. The cytophysiological significance of such cytochemical changes in glycoconjugates of the zona pellucida has been discussed with special reference to its functional alterations following maturation, ovulation and fertilization.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BARANSKA, W., KONWINSKI, M. & KUJAWA, M. (1975) Fine structure of the zona pellucida of unfertilized egg cells and embryos.J. exp. Zool. 192, 193–202.
BRADEN, A. W. H. (1952) Properties of the membranes of the rat and rabbit egg.Aust. J. Sci. Res. 5, 460–71.
COLLARD, J. G. & TEMMINK, J. H. M. (1974) Binding and cytochemical detection of cell bound concanavalin A.Exp. Cell Res. 86, 81–6.
DA SILVA SASSO, W. (1959) Existence of hyaluronic acid at the zona pellucida of rabbits' ovum.Acta Anat. 36, 352–7.
FLORMAN, H. M. & WASSARMAN, P. M. (1985)O-linked oligosaccharides of mouse egg ZP3 account for its sperm receptor activity.Cell 41, 313–24.
HADEK, R. (1958) Morphological and histochemical study on the ovary of the sheep.Amer. J. Vet. Res. 19, 873–81.
HARTER, B. T. (1948) Glycogen and carbohydrate—protein complexes in the ovary of the white rat during the oestrous cycle.Anat. Rec. 102, 349–67.
HOAGE, T. R. & CAMERON, I. L. (1976) Folliculogenesis in the ovary of the mature mouse: a radioautographic study.Anat. Rec. 184, 699–710.
LEBLOND, C. P. (1950) Distribution of periodic acid-reactive carbohydrates in adult rat.Amer. J. Anat. 86, 1–49.
LEPPI, T. J. (1968) Morphochemical analysis of mucous cells in the skin and slime glands of hagfishes.Histochemie 15, 68–78.
LEV, R. & SPICER, S. S. (1964) Specific staining of sulphate groups with Alcian Blue at low pH.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 309.
MCMANUS, J. F. A. (1948) Histological and histochemical uses of periodic acid.Stain Technol. 23, 99–108.
OIKAWA, T., NICOLSON, G. L. & YANAGIMACHI, R. (1975a) Trypsin-mediated modification of the zona pellucida glycopeptide structure of hamster eggs.J. Reprod. Fert. 43, 133–6.
OIKAWA, T., YANAGIMACHI, R. & NICOLSON, G. L. (1975b) Species differences in the lectin-binding sites on the zona pellucida of rodent eggs.J. Reprod. Fert. 43, 137–40.
PEARSE, A. G. E. (1968) Carbohydrates and mucosubstances. InHistochemistry, Theoretical & Applied, Vol. 1, 3rd Edn, pp. 294–380. London: J. & A. Churchill.
PEARSE, A. G. E. (1985) Affinity cytochemistry. InHistochemistry, Theoretical and Applied. Vol. 2, 4th Edn, pp. 754–85, Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, New York: Churchill Livingstone.
PIKÓ, L. (1969) Gamete structure and sperm entry in mammals. InFertilization Vol. 2 (edited by METZ, C. B. and MONROY, A.), pp. 325–403. New York, London: Academic Press.
SHIMIZU, S., TSUJI, M. & DEAN, J. (1983)In vitro biosynthesis of three sulfated glycoproteins of murine zonae pellucidae by oocytes grown in follicle culture.J. Biol. Chem. 258, 5858–63.
SOUPART, R. & CLEWE, T. H. (1965) Sperm penetration of rabbit zona pellucida inhibited by treatment of ova with neuraminidase.Fert. Steril. 16, 677–89.
SPICER, S. S. & WARREN, L. (1960) The histochemistry of sialic acid-containing mucoproteins.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 8, 135–7.
SPICER, S. S., HORN, R. G. & LEPPI, T. J. (1967) Histochemistry of connective tissue mucopolysaccharides. InThe Connective Tissue (edited by WAGNER, B. M. and SMITH, D. E.), pp. 251–303. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
TADANO, Y. & YAMADA, K. (1978) The histochemistry of complex carbohydrates in the ovarian follicles of adult mice.Histochemistry 57, 203–15.
WATANABE, M., MURAMATSU, T., SHIRANE, H. & UGAI, K. (1981) Discrete distribution of binding sites forDolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and for peanut agglutinin (PNA) in mouse organ tissues.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 779–90.
WINZLER, R. J. (1970) Carbohydrates in cell surface. InInternational Review of Cytology Vol. 29 (edited by BOURNE, G. H. and DANIELLI, J. F.), pp. 77–125. New York, London: Academic Press.
YAMADA, K. & SHIMIZU, S. (1976) Concanavalin A—peroxidase—diaminobenzidine (Con A—PO—DAB)-Alcian Blue (AB). A reliable method for dual staining of complex carbohydrates.Histochemistry 47, 159–69.
YAMADA, K. & SHIMIZU, S. (1977) The histochemistry of galactose residues of complex carbohydrates as studied by peroxidase-labeledRicinus communis agglutinin.Histochemistry 53, 143–56.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shimizu, S., Yamada, K. The cytochemistry of glycoconjugates in the zona pellucida of murine ovarian oocytes and two-cell embryos. Histochem J 18, 357–363 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01675216
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01675216