Skip to main content

Constitutive heterochromatin and micronucleoli in the human oocyte at the diplotene stage

Humangenetik volume 26, pages 315–327 (1975)Cite this article

Summary

In the diplotene stage of the human oocyte, the processes of elaboration of the nucleolar material are amplified. The principal nucleoli are more voluminous but therir relations with the secondary constrictions and the satellites of the D and G chromosomes are not modified. Numerous micronucleoli, frequently to the number of 15–20, appear at this stage. The most remarkable point is their association to various segments of constitutive heterochromatin: centromeric regions, secondary constrictions of the C9 and probably of the A1 and E16. These observations reveal that the human oocyte at the diplotene stage shows an amplification of the ribosomal cistrons. This phenomenon is homologous, to a more reduced scale, of this described from the inferior vertebrates. Besides, the role of heterochromatin in the synthesis of nucleolar material without the intervention of the classic nucleolar organizers is suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Arndt, E. A.: Die Aufgaben des Kerns während der Oogenese der Teleosteer. Z. Zellforsch. 51, 356–378 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrighi, F. E., Hsu, T. C.: Localization of heterochromatin in human chromosomes. Cytogenetics 10, 81–86 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, H.: Die wachsenden Oocytenkerne einiger Insekten in ihrem Verhalten zur Nuklealfärbung. Z. Zellforsch. 18, 254–298 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobrow, M., Madan, K., Pearson, P. L.: Staining of some specific regions of human chromosomes, particularly on secondary constriction of No9. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 238, 122–124 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brachet, J.: La localisation de l'acide thymonucléique pendant l'oogenèse et la maturation chez les amphibiens. Arch. Biol. (Liège) 51, 151–165 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  • Britten, R. J., Kohne, D. E.: Repeated sequences in DNA. Science 161, 529–540 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Britten, R. J., Kohne, D. E.: Implications of repeated nucleotid sequences. In: Handbook of molecular cytology (ed. Lima de Faria), pp. 37–51. Amsterdam-London: North-Holland 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. D., Dawid, I. B.: Specific gene amplification in oöcytes. Science 160, 272–280 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Callan, H. G.: Chromosomes and nucleoli of the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. J. Cell. Sci. 1, 85–108 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspersson, T.: Cell growth and cell function. New York: Norton 1950

    Google Scholar 

  • Chouinard, L. A.: Sites of formation of the extra nucleoli during early oocyte growth in the freshwater teleost Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill. Canad. J. Zool. 41, 997–1010 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D. E.: The structure and function of chromatin. In: Advances in human genetics (ed. H. Harris and K. Hirschhorn), Vol. 3, pp. 237–431. New York-London: Plenum Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D. E., Mattoccia, E.: DNA of mammalian and avian heterochromatin. Exp. Cell Res. 71, 113–131 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: A satellite DNA isolated from human tissues. J. Molec. Biol. 23, 619–622 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: Isolation of the complementary strands of a human satellite DNA. J. molec. Biol. 33, 331–335 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli E.: Repeated sequences in human DNA. J. molec. Biol. 48, 319–327 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D., Birnstiel, M.: Localization of amplified ribosomal DNA in the oöcyte of Xenopus laevis. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 166, 274–276 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flamm, W. G., Walker, P. M. B., McCallum, M.: Some properties of the single strands isolated from the DNA of the nuclear satellite of the mouse (Mus musculus). J. molec. Biol. 40, 423–443 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frenster, J. H.: Biochemistry and molecular biophysics of heterochromatin and euchromatin In: Handbook of molecular cytology (ed. Lima de Faria), pp. 251–276. Amsterdam-London: North-Holland 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Frenster, J. H., Allfrey, V. G., Mirsky, A. E.: Repressed and active chromatin isolated from interphase lymphocytes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 50, 1026 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagne, R., Laberge, C.: Specific cytological recognition of the heterochromatic segment of number 9 chromosome in man. Exp. Cell Res. 73, 239–242 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, J. G.: Differential synthesis on the genes for ribosomal RNA during amphibian oogenesis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 60, 553–560 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, J. G.: The genes for ribosomal RNA during oögenesis. Genetics 61, 121–132 (1969 suppl.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harel, J., Hanania, N., Tapiero, H., Harel, L.: RNA replication by nuclear satellite DNA in different mouse cells. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 33, 696–701 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, A. S., Warburton, D., Atwood, K. C.: Location of ribosomal DNA in the human chromosome complement. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 69, 3394–3398 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K. W.: Chromosomal and nuclear location of mouse satellite DNA in individual cells. Nature (Lond.) 225, 912–915 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K. W., Corneo, G.: Location of satellite and homogeneous DNA sequences on human chromosomes. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 233, 268–271 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kedes, L. H., Birnstiel, M. L.: Reiteration and clustering of DNA sequences complementary to histone messenger RNA. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 230, 165–169 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • King, H. D.: The oögenesis of Bufo lentiginosus. J. Morph. 19, 369–438 (1908)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunz, W.: Funktionsstrukturen im Oocytenkern von Locusta migratoria. Chromosoma (Berl.) 20, 332–370 (1967a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunz, W.: Lampenbürstenchromosomen und multiple Nukleolen bei Orthopteren. Chromosoma (Berl.) 21, 446–462 (1967b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima de Faria, A.: DNA replication and gene amplification in heterochromatin. In: Handbook of molecular cytology (ed. Lima de Faria) pp. 277–325. Amsterdam-London: North-Holland 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima de Faria, A., Jaworska, H., Gustafsson, T.: Release of amplified ribosomal DNA from the chromomeres of Acheta. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 70, 80–83 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Littau, V. C., Allfrey, V. G., Frenster, J. H., Mirsky, A. E.: Active and inactive regions of nuclear chromatin as revealed by electron microscope auto-radiography. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 52, 93 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luciani, J. M., Devictor-Vuillet, M., Gagné, R., Stahl, A.: An air-drying method for first meiotic prophase preparations from mammalian ovaries. J. Reprod. Fertil. 36, 409–411 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Luciani, J. M., Stahl, A.: Rapports des nucléoles avec les chromosomes méiotiques de l'ovocyte foetal humain. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 273, 521–524 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, H. C.: The role of lampbrush chromosomes in the formation of nucleoli in amphibian oocytes. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 106, 215–228 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, H. C.: Nucleolar DNA in oocytes of Xenopus laevis. J. Cell. Sci. 3, 437–444 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, O. L.: Extrachromosomal nucleolar DNA in amphibian oocytes. J. Cell Biol 23, 60 A (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Natarajan, A. T., Sharma, R. P.: Tritiated uridine induced chromosome aberrations in relation to heterochromatin and nucleolar organisation in Microtus agrestis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 34, 168–182 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Painter, T. S., Taylor, A. N.: Nucleic acid storage in the toad's egg. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 28, 311–317 (1942)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardue, M. L., Gall, J.: Chromosomal localization of mouse satellite DNA. Science 168, 1356–1358 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rae, P. M. M., Franke, W. W.: The interphase distribution of satellite DNA containing heterochromatin in mouse nuclei. Chromosoma (Berl.) 39, 443–456 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, C. P.: Oogenesis: The storage of developmental information. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, G. F., Hsu, T. C., Getz, M. J., Simes, E. L., Arrighi, F. E.: Locations of a human satellite DNA in human chromosomes. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 236 244–246 (1972a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, G. F., Shirakawa, S., Saunders, P. P., Arrighi, F. E., Hsu, T. C.: Populations of repeated DNA sequences in the human genome. J. molec. Biol. 63, 323–334 (1972b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, E., Heukamp, U., Pera, F.: Loss of heteropycnosis of the constitutive heterochromatin in specifically activated cells of the thyroid gland of Microtus agrestis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 41, 167–173 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieger, M., Garweg, G., Schwarzacher, H. G.: Constitutive heterochromatin in Microtus agrestis: Binding of actinomycin-D and transcriptional inactivity. Chromosoma (Berl.) 35, 84–98 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieger, M., Pera, F., Schwarzacher, H. G.: Genetic inactivity of heterochromatin and heteropycnosis in Microtus agrestis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 29, 349–364 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, A., Luciani, J. M.: Nucleoli and chromosomes: their relationships during the meiotic prophase of the human fetal oocyte. Humangenetik 14, 269–284 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, P. M. B., Flamm, W. G., McLaren, A.: Highly repetitive DNA in rodents. In: Handbook of molecular cytology (ed. Lima de Faria) pp. 53–66. Amsterdam-London: North-Holland 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, F.: Korrelierte Formveränderungen von Nukleolus und nukleolusassoziiertem Heterochromatin bei der Gattung Carabus (Coleoptera). Chromosoma (Berl.) 34 261–273 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto, K.: Changes in the nucleus of the oocyte of Liopsetta obscura with special reference to the activity of the nucleolus. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ. 12, 375–389 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasmineh, W. G., Yunis, W. G.: Localization of mouse satellite DNA in constitutive heterochromatin. Exp. Cell Res. 59 69–75 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Histologie et Embryologie II, Marseille, France

    A. Stahl, J. M. Luciani, M. Devictor, A. M. Capodano & R. Gagné

Authors
  1. A. Stahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. M. Luciani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Devictor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. M. Capodano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Gagné
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

CNRS, Equipe de Recherche associée n° 397.

R. Gagné holds a grant from the Quebec Medical Research Council (Canada)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stahl, A., Luciani, J.M., Devictor, M. et al. Constitutive heterochromatin and micronucleoli in the human oocyte at the diplotene stage. Hum Genet 26, 315–327 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285383

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285383

Keywords

  • Internal Medicine
  • Metabolic Disease
  • Centromeric Region
  • Nucleolar Organizer
  • Secondary Constriction