The ultrastructural changes of mitochondria in the ovarian oocytes from Graafian follicles, the ovulated tubal ova, and the various stages of preimplantation rabbit embryos have been observed with an electron microscope. From the ovarian oocytes to the 4-cell stage, mitochondria showed oval and round forms with a few cristae arranged concentrically and peripherally at the inner membrane. In 8-cell and 16-cell stages, mitochondria tended to change their forms to be elongated, and their sizes, and the outer membrane of the mitochondria had a tendency to become rough and irregular although there were few changes in the inner structure. In morula, some mitochondria began to show several transverse cristae proceeding into the matrix. Mitochondria rapidly increased in number at the late blastocyst stage. Matrix of mitochondria with transverse cristae found in the morula and in blastocyst stages was less dense than that of the earlier stages. The authors believe that the morphological changes of mitochondria during early embryonal development indicate the level of enzymatic activity at which this organelle is engaged in energy metabolism.
Animal ; Cell Membrane/ultrastructure ; Embryo/ultrastructure* ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria/ultrastructure* ; Organoids/ultrastructure ; Ovum/ultrastructure ; Rabbits

This experiment was undertaken in order to find out if there is any morphological change in oocytes and two-cell embryos whose development have been suppressed by progesterone for six hours in vitro. It can be observed that some part of the outer side of nuclear membrane of the suppressed oocytes was damaged. The number of nuclear pores has decreased in suppressed oocytes and this suggests that progesterone might suppress the transport of intermediary metabolites between cytoplasm and nucleus. Sometimes, closely packed aggregates of parallel or irregular endoplasmic reticula were observed in suppressed oocytes. Microvilli of suppresed oocytes showed signs of degradation and the perivitelline space became apparent. Thus it is presumed that the egg membrane has constricted during cultivation under progesterone in vitro. The other cell organelles such as mitochondria, multivesicular bodies, cortical granules and fibrillar lattices showed no difference in morphology between treated and control (intact) oocytes. In two-cell embryos, there was also no evident morphological change except for the fact that many vacuoles appeared clearly in suppressed embryonal cells. In brief, there was no fundamental morphological change in the oocytes and the embryonal cells exposed to progesterone for six hours even though it inhibits their development. The action of progesterone should be investigated thoroughly.
Animal ; Embryo/cytology* ; Embryo/drug effects ; Female ; In Vitro ; Mice ; Oocytes/drug effects ; Oocytes/ultrastructure* ; Ovum/ultrastructure* ; Progesterone/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVECompare two methods of preparing human unfertilized oocytes interphase nucleus and analyze the relationship between the different in vitro fertilization(IVF) indications, ovarian stimulation protocols, women's age and frequency of chromosome 17 aneuploidy.

METHODSTarkowski's air-drying method(3:1 methanol:acetic acid) and Coonen's 0.1% Tween 20/0.01 mol/L HCl method were used to fix human unfertilized oocytes interphase nucleus, and telomeric probe of 17qter was used by standard fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) procedures to confirm chromosome 17qter aneuploidy.

RESULTSOf 36 human unfertilized oocytes, 24 were haploid (66.7%), 7 were disomic (19.44%), 5 were trisomic (13.89%). The overall frequency of aneuploidy was 33.3%. There were no differences between the protocols characterized by different maternal age, IVF indication, ovarian stimulation.

CONCLUSIONTarkowski's air dry method is as good as the method of Coonen's, but the latter method can avoid the smell pollution of the methanol and acetic acid, and it is easy to operate. The chromosome 17 aneuploidy is one of the factors to cause in vitro fertilization failure of human oocytes.

Adult ; Aneuploidy ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; DNA Probes ; Diploidy ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Haploidy ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Interphase ; genetics ; Karyotyping ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; methods ; Ovulation Induction ; methods ; Ovum ; physiology ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVETo study nematode parasites morphology of Hystrix javanica (H. javanica), both through the feces and internal organs.

METHODSFeces were observed by direct smear method, internal organs were observed after dissecting the host. Specimens for light microscopy examination were fixed with 70% warm alcohol, cleared and mounted in lactophenol for wet mounting. Specimens for SEM examination were postfixed in cacodylate buffer and glutaraldehyde, dehydrated through a graded series of alcohol and freeze dried. The specimens were attached to stubs with double cello-tape, coated with gold and observed with a JSM5310 LV electron microscope. Figures were made with the aid of a drawing tube attached to Olympus compound microscope, other figures were photographs of scanning electron microscope images. Measurements were given in micrometers as the mean followed by the range in parentheses, unless otherwise stated.

RESULTSThe nematode species found in the intestine of H. javanica are Gireterakis girardi and a new species, Trihuris landak. The new species differs with previously reported species from Hystrix because of having stylet and short cervical alae. The pattern of bacillary band is closed to Trichuris trichiurus, the species that infect human, but differs because the surface of its vulva is not covered with densely spine.

CONCLUSIONSThe species of nematodes found on H. javanica were Gireterakis girardi and a new species Trichuris landak n.sp. Those two species are newly recorded in Indonesia.

Animals ; Ascaridida ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Ascaridida Infections ; parasitology ; veterinary ; Feces ; parasitology ; Female ; Indonesia ; Intestines ; parasitology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; veterinary ; Ovum ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Porcupines ; parasitology ; Species Specificity ; Trichuriasis ; parasitology ; veterinary ; Trichuris ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; isolation & purification ; physiology