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Formation of the egg envelope of a teleost, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.): immunochemical and cytochemical detection of multiple components

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Abstract

The formation of the egg envelope in a teleost, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), was analysed at histological and ultrastructural level. The sequential deposition of three main layers (Z1, Z2 and Z3) constitutes the extracellular matrix throughout oocyte development. Various findings indicate that these subunits are biochemically distinct: (1) periodate- and phosphotungstic acid-reactive carbohydrates are obviously detected only in the Z1, that constitutes the initial deposit of the egg envelope in early lipidic oocytes; (2) a monoclonal antibody (DLE7) against egg envelope polypeptides did not immunostain the Z1 and the underlying Z2; (3) the antigenic determinants recognised by DLE7, thought to be exogenous in origin (synthesised in the liver), are incorporated in the inner layer (Z3). In addition, DLE7 immunostained a thin layer, assembled together with Z3. This line has not yet been described in teleost eggs and was named Z1a. This study first describes at fine cytological level the contribution of exogenous proteins to formation of the different egg envelope layers. Results obtained with conventional, immunochemical and cytochemical techniques suggest multiple synthetic sources (exogenous and follicular) of egg envelope proteins.

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Abbreviations

IR :

Immunoreactivity

LVS :

Lipid vesicle stage

mAb :

Monoclonal antibody

PAS :

Periodic acid–Schiff

PBS :

Phosphate-buffered saline

PTA :

Phosphotungstic acid

TBS :

Tris-buffered saline

TEM :

Transmission electron microscopy

YGS :

Yolk granule stage

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Claudia Narduzzi for technical help. The authors greatly acknowledge Dr. Maria Rita Bovolenta (University of Ferrara, Italy) for help in some TEM analyses, and Sig. Brasola (La Rosa, Albinia, Italy) for the supply of experimental animals. This work was supported by grants from MIUR (ex 60%).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Largo dell’Università, s.n.c.-Blocco D, 01100 , Viterbo, Italy

    A. M. Fausto, S. Picchietti, G. Scapigliati & M. Mazzini

  2. Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

    A. R. Taddei

  3. Sezione di Anatomia Comparata, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Ferrara, 44100 , Ferrara, Italy

    C. Zeni & L. Abelli

Authors
  1. A. M. Fausto
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  2. S. Picchietti
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  3. A. R. Taddei
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  4. C. Zeni
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  5. G. Scapigliati
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  6. M. Mazzini
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  7. L. Abelli
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Correspondence to A. M. Fausto.

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Fausto, A.M., Picchietti, S., Taddei, A.R. et al. Formation of the egg envelope of a teleost, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.): immunochemical and cytochemical detection of multiple components. Anat Embryol 208, 43–53 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-003-0372-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-003-0372-z

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