Abstract
The material consisted of 73 oocytes obtained at follicle aspiration in ovarian-stimulated women. Oocytes in various stages of maturation were either immediately fixed or cultured before fixation. Observations by transmission electron microscopy disclosed that 20% of the immature oocytes, which appeared normal in the light microscope, had commenced atresia, and one immediately fixed oocyte surrounded by a normal-appearing preovulatory cumulus mass was found to be degenerated. Further, a cumulus mass judged as preovulatory contained an oocyte possessing a germinal vesicle. Light microscopy is thus not always adequate for judging the condition of ova surrounded by cumulus cells. Cytoplasmic changes which were regarded as being related to oocyte maturation were a decrease in the number of vacuoles and multivesicular bodies, an increase in the volume of the endoplasmic reticulum, a clustering of mitochondria, and the appearance of aggregates of tubuli of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum surrounded by mitochondria and mitochondria-vesicle complexes. Certain features were found to cause misinterpretations at examination of oocytes in a light microscope. For instance, polar bodies can be mimicked by corona cells in the perivitelline space and pronuclei in oocytes by large mitochondria-vesicle complexes in the ooplasm. Consequently, not all oocytes in which polar body-like or pronuclei-like structures are observed are necessarily fertilized oocytes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fishel SB, Edwards RG, Walters DE: Follicular steroids as a prognosticator of successful fertilization of human oocytes in vitro. J Endocrinol 1983;99:335–344
Sundström P, Nilsson O, Liedholm P: Cleavage rate and morphology of early human embryos obtained after artificial fertilization and culture. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1981;60:109–120.
Wramsby H, Kullander S, Liedholm P, Rannevik G, Sundström P, Thorell J: The success rate of in vitro fertilization of human oocytes in relation to the concentrations of different hormones in follicular fluid and peripheral plasma. Fertil Steril 1981;36:448–453
Tsafriri A, Bar-Ami S, Lindner HR: Control of the development of meiotic competence and of oocyte maturation in mammals.In Fertilization of the Human Egg in Vitro. HM Beier, HR Lindner (eds). Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1983, pp 3–17
Edwards RG: Conception in the Human Female. London, Academic Press, 1980
Speroff L, Glass RH, Kase NG: Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology & Infertility, 3rd ed. Baltimore/London, Williams & Wilkins, 1983, p 455
Stegner H-E, Wartenberg H: Elektronmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Eizellen des Menschen in verschiedenen Stadien der Oogenese. Arch Gynäkol 1963;199:151–172
Hertig AT, Adams EC: Studies on the human oocyte and its follicle. J Cell Biol 1967;34:647–675
Hertig AT: The primary oocyte: Some observations on the fine structure of Balbiani's vitelline body and the origin of the annulate lamellae. Am J Anat 1968;122:107–138
Baker TG, Franchi LL: The fine structure of oogonia and oocytes in human ovaries. J Cell Sci 1967;2:213–224
Baca M, Zamboni L: The fine structure of human follicular oocytes. J Ultrastruct Res 1967;19:354–381
Santhananthan AH, Lopata A: Ultrastructure of human eggs: Aspirated preovulatory mature ova prior to fertilization. Micron 1980;11:469–470
Noriega C, Oberti C: Studies of the human unfertilized tubal ovum. Fertil Steril 1973;24:595–601
Zamboni L, Thompson RS, Moore Smith D: Fine morphology of human oocyte maturation in vitro. Biol Reprod 1972;7:425–457
Zamboni L, Moore Smith D, Thompson RS: Migration of follicle cells through the zone pellucida and their sequestration by human oocytes in vitro. J Exp Zool 1972;181:319–340
Suzuki S, Kitai H, Tojo R, Seki K, Oba M, Fujiwara T, Ilzuka R: Ultrastructure and some biologic properties of human oocytes and granulosa cells cultured in vitro. Fertil Steril 1981;35:142–148
Santhananthan AH, Trounson AO, Wood C, Leeton JF: Ultrastructural observations on the penetration of human sperm into the zona pellucida of the human egg in vitro. J Androl 1982;3:356–364
Santhananthan AH, Trounson AO: Ultrastructural observations on cortical granules in human follicular oocytes cultured in vitro. Gamate Res 1982;5:191–198
Hopkins CR: Structure and Function of Cells. London, Saunders, 1978.
Cardasis CA, Schuel H, Herman L: Ultrastural localization of calcium in unfertilized sea-urchin eggs. J Cell Sci 1978;31:101–115
Lawrence TS, Ginzberg RD, Gilula NB, Beers WH: Hormonally induced cell shape changes in cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells. J Cell Biol 1979;80:21–36
Aitken RJ, Kelly RW: Analysis of the direct effects of prostaglandins on human sperm function. J Reprod Fertil 1985;73:139–146
Breitenecker G, Friedrich F, Kemeter P: Further investigations on the maturation and degeneration of human ovarian follicles and their oocytes. Fertil Steril 1978;29:336–341
Veeck LL, Wortham JWE, Witmyer J, Sandow BA, Acosta AA, Garcia JE, Jones GS, Jones HW: Maturation and fertilization of morphologically immature human oocytes in a program of in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1983;39:594–602
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sundström, P., Ove Nilsson, B., Liedholm, P. et al. Ultrastructural characteristics of human oocytes fixed at follicular puncture or after culture. J Assist Reprod Genet 2, 195–206 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01201797
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01201797