Journal of Cell Science, Vol 22, Issue 2 325-334, Copyright © 1976 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Intranuclear membranous inclusions in oocytes of a viviparous teleost (Xiphophorus helleri)

C Azevedo

Intranuclear inclusions were observed in oocytes of Xiphophorus helleri during prophase I. In osmium-fixed leptotene nuclei, the inclusions were made up of groups of membrane-limited vesicles or tubules with pale contents, situated near the inner nuclear membrane with which some of them exhibited apparent continuities. In zygotene nuclei, larger vesicles also appeared bounded by two or three membranes and containing tubules apparently invaginated from their walls. In pachytene-dictyate nuclei most vesicular bodies had a wall formed by stratified membranes, or were entirely made up of membranous whorls. In glutaraldehyde-osmium fixed material some of these myeline-like bodies showed a peculiar arrangement, consisting of concentric bands each containing thick inner dense lamellae 2-0-3-0 nm thick and a 5-0 nm outer lamella. It is suggested that these inclusion bodies arise from the inner nuclear membrane of oocytes when cells start to grow intensely during prophase I. The bodies seem to become more complex at late prophase, probably by association of individual vesicles and the occurrence of multiple membrane invaginations, which may be related to active metabolic phenomena taking place at this stage in oocytes.