Summary
The process of cortical change upon fertilization of eggs of the teleostean fish,Oryzias latipes was investigated. A cortical alveolus (CA) contains colloidal material, a spherical body, and often a membranous structure. Upon insemination, breakdown of the cortical alveoli and elevation of the chorion began around the animal pole and ended at the vegetal pole. It was found that the spherical body was extruded with the colloidal material from the CA: the spherical body swelled after the opening of an aperture and was extruded into the perivitelline space through a large aperture. The empty CA shrank and disappeared completely as a result of the transformation of its envelope to numerous microvilli. The spherical body isolated or in the perivitelline space could be digested quickly by proteolytic enzymes. When spherical bodies in the perivitelline space of a fertilized egg were digested enzymatically, the vitellus came into direct contact with the chorion. The present study seems to show that swollen spherical bodies derived from CA play a role in maintaining a certain distance between the chorion and the vitellus after fertilization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Afzelius, B.A.: The ultrastructure of the cortical granules and their products in the sea urchin egg as studied with the electron microscope. Exptl. Cell Res.10, 257–285 (1956)
Anderson, E.: Oocyte differentiation in the sea urchin,Arbacia punctulata, with particular reference to the origin of cortical granules and their participation in the cortical reaction. J. Cell Biol.37, 514–539 (1968)
Endo, Y.: Changes in the cortical layer of sea urchin eggs at fertilization as studied with the electron microscope. I.Clypeaster japonicus. Exptl. Cell Res.25, 383–397 (1961)
Grey, R.D., Wolf, D.P., Hedrick, J.L.: Formation and structure of the fertilization envelope inXenopus laevis. Develop. Biol.36, 44 (1974)
Hagström, B.E., Lönning, S.: Electron microscopic studies of unfertilized and fertilized eggs from marine teleosts. Sarsia33, 73–80 (1968)
Iwamatsu, T.: Structural change in the egg surface after fertilization in the fish,Oryzias latipes. Annot. Zool. Japon.41, 148–153 (1968)
Iwamatsu, T.: Changes of the chorion upon fertilization in the medaka,Oryzias latipes. Bull. Aichi Univ. Educat.18, (Nat. Sci.), 43–56 (1969)
Iwamatsu, T., Ohta, T.: Cleavage initiating activities of sperm fractions injected into the egg of the medaka,Oryzias latipes. J. Exp. Zool.187, 3–12 (1974)
Kudo, S.: Electron microscope observations on the cortical changes in the egg ofCarassius carassius. I. The release of granules. Sci. Rep. Tohoku Univ. Ser. IV (Biol.)33, 185–195 (1967)
Kusa, M.: Studies on cortical alveoli in some teleostean eggs. Embryologia3, 105–129 (1956)
Kusa, M., Ootake, S.: Notes on the particles occuring in the perivitelline space in the egg of the brook lamprey following insemination. Bull. Yamagata Univ. Sci.4, 459–468 (1959) (in Japanese)
Luft, J.H.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. Biophysic. Biochem. Cytol.9, 409–414 (1961)
Nakano, E.: Changes in the egg membrane of the fish egg during fertilization. Embryologia3, 89–103 (1956)
Ohtsuka, E.: On the hardening of the chorion in the fish egg after fertilization. I. Role of the cortical substance in chorion hardening of the egg ofOryzias latipes. Sieboldia2, 19–29 (1957)
Ohtsuka, E.: Carbohydrate component of the perivitelline fluid and its origin in the egg ofOryzias latipes. Zool. Mag. (Tokyo)67, 96–99 (1958) (in Japanese)
Ohtsuka, E.: On the hardening of the chorion of the fish egg after fertilization. III. The mechanism of chorion hardening inOryzias latipes. Biol. Bull.118, 120–128 (1960)
Sakai, Y.T.: Method for removal of chorion and fertilization of the naked egg inOryzias latipes. Embryologia5, 357–368 (1961)
Sato, H., Owaribe, K., Miki-Noumura, T.: Existence of surface fibers in perivitelline space. Zool. Mag. (Tokyo)82, 239 (1973) (in Japanese)
Spek, J.: Die bipolare Differenzierung des protoplasmas des Teleosteer-Eies und ihre Entstehung. Protoplasmas18, 497–545 (1933)
Wolf, D.P.: The cortical responses inXenopus laevis ova. Develop. Biol.40, 102–115 (1974)
Yamamoto, M.: Electron microscopy of fish development. III. Changes in the ultrastructure of the nucleus and cytoplasm of the oocyte during its development inOryzias latipes. J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, Sec. IV,10, 335–346 (1964)
Yamamoto, T.: Studies on the rhythmical movements of the early embryos ofOryzias latipes. I. General description. J. Fac. Sci. Tokyo Imp. Univ. Sec. IV (Zool.)2, 147–152 (1931)
Yamamoto, T.: Contractile movement of the egg of a bony fish,Salanx microdon. Proc. Imp. Acad. (Tokyo)14, 149–151 (1938)
Yamamoto, T.: Changes of the cortical layer of the egg ofOryzias latipes at the time of fertilization. Proc. Imp. Acad (Tokyo)15, 269–271 (1939)
Yamamoto, T.: Physiology of fertilization in fish eggs. Intern. Rev. Cytol.12, 361–405 (1961)
Yamamoto, T.: Mechanism of breakdown of cortical alveoli during fertilization in the medaka,Oryzias latipes. Embryologia7, 228–251 (1962)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Iwamatsu, T., Ohta, T. Breakdown of the cortical alveoli of medaka eggs at the time of fertilization, with a particular reference to the possible role of spherical bodies in the alveoli. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 180, 297–309 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848776
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00848776