Summary
The female zebrafish is capable of producing mature eggs on the fifth day of each reproductive cycle. During this five-day period the ultrastructure of hepatocytes undergoes several changes. The number of nuclear pores increases rapidly during spawning, followed by a proliferation of RER within 24 h. Two days after spawning, glycogen has disappeared and the liver contains large amounts of lipids. The lipid droplets are closely surrounded by elongated mitochondria. Golgi complexes are abundant, secreting dense bodies. Four days after spawning the hepatocytes tend to regain their pre-spawning appearance. It is suggested that the changes in the hepatocytes, which coincide with special phases of ovarian activity, are related to vitellogenin synthesis. Steroids, especially estradiol-17β, may trigger this process in the liver.
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The authors are indebted to Dr. P.H J.Th. Ververgaert (Molecular Cell Biology, Utrecht) for kindly offering facilities and advice during the freeze-etch study. They are also grateful to Prof. Dr. P.G.WJ. van Oordt for reading the manuscript, to Mr. J.J. van der Vlis for preparing the drawing, and to Mr. L.W. van Veenendaal for making the photographs
Preliminary results of this study were presented at the 6th British-Dutch Endocrine Meeting; see Van der Gaag et al., 1976
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Peute, J., van der Gaag, M.A. & Lambert, J.G.D. Ultrastructure and lipid content of the liver of the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio, related to vitellogenin synthesis. Cell Tissue Res. 186, 297–308 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225539
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225539