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Summary

Spherical fibrillogranular nuclear structures, here called nucleosphaeridies, were observed in pig embryos ranging between the two-cell-stage and the early blastocyststage. Up to four nucleosphaeridies, averaging 2 to 4 μm in diameter and different from the common nucleoplasmic structures, were found in a single thin section. As a rule the nucleosphaeridies are situated at random in the nucleoplasm, sometimes in contiguity with the nuclear envelope. Occasionally, they are located within the nucleolus. There is morphological similarity between the nucleosphaeridies situated within the nucleolus and those situated in the nucleoplasm. Based on these morphological observations, considerations are given as to whether these nucleosphaeridies are synthesized by the nucleoli, or inversely, these structures are precursors in the development and maturation of the nucleoli.

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After Büttner et al. (1967).

This work was supported by the Agricultural Research Council of Norway.

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Norberg, H.S. Nucleosphaeridies in early pig embryos. Z. Zellforsch. 110, 61–71 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343985

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