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Oogenesis in the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata

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Abstract

Investigation of embryos, neonates, sub-adult and adult female Torpedo marmorata showed that oogenesis is immediate. It begins very early in development and continues, in its proliferative phase after birth. In newborns, 3–4 month old, all germ cells present in the ovary have achieved diplotene stage and are surrounded by a single layer of small follicle cells (primordial follicles). Later with continued oocyte growth, the follicular epithelium (granulosa) progressively changes its organization and becomes multilayered and polymorphic with the presence of three types of cells: small, intermediate and pyriform cells. This organization lasts until the end of oocyte growth, but its activity changes significantly. Indeed, in the previtellogenic phase intermediate and pyriform-cells transfer to the oocyte mitochondria, ribosomes, vesicles, via intercellular bridges; during vitellogenesis, intermediate and pyriform cells, as well as small follicle cells, synthesize and transfer vitellogenin within the oocyte. During Torpedo oogenesis, in concomitance with the differentiation of the granulosa, the nucleolar apparatus is modified significantly: transcriptionally active in primary follicles, it becomes inactive during the subsequent stages of oocyte growth.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a COFIN 2004 grant to P. Andreuccetti. We are grateful to the CISME staff for their TEM facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Evolutionary and Comparative Biology Division, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Marina Prisco, Annamaria Liguoro, Loredana Ricchiari & Giuseppina Del Giudice

  2. Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche, Sezione di Biologia Comparata ed Evolutiva, Via Mezzocannone n.8, 80134, Napoli, Italy

    Piero Andreuccetti

Authors
  1. Marina Prisco
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  2. Annamaria Liguoro
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  3. Loredana Ricchiari
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  4. Giuseppina Del Giudice
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  5. Piero Andreuccetti
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Correspondence to Piero Andreuccetti.

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Prisco, M., Liguoro, A., Ricchiari, L. et al. Oogenesis in the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata . Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 17, 1–10 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-006-9013-y

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