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In mouse oocytes the mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like structures accumulate mouse Vasa homologue (MVH)

Arkadiy A Reunov1, Yulia A Reunova2

  • 1Laboratory of Cell Differentiation,Paltchevsky st.-17,A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology,Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences,690041 Vladivostok,Russia.

Zygote (Cambridge, England)
|May 1, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like granules in mouse oocytes are confirmed to be mouse germ plasm. This study provides the first evidence linking these structures to germ plasm via Mouse Vasa homologue (MVH) antibody labeling.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Germ plasm is essential for germ cell development in many organisms.
  • The origin of germinal body-like structures in mouse oocytes has been debated.
  • Previous studies suggested a potential mitochondrial origin for these structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association of mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like structures with germ plasm in mouse Graafian oocytes.
  • To determine if these structures are labeled by Mouse Vasa homologue (MVH) antibodies.

Main Methods:

  • Application of Mouse Vasa homologue (MVH) antibodies to mouse Graafian oocytes.
  • Analysis using conventional electron microscopy.
  • Immunohistochemical labeling to detect MVH presence.

Main Results:

  • Both mitochondrion-like structures with cristae and germinal body-like structures without cristae were specifically labeled by anti-MVH antibody.
  • MVH-positive ultrastructural hybrid granules of mitochondria and germinal body-like structures were observed.
  • These findings support a mitochondrial origin for germinal body-like structures.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like granules represent mouse germ plasm.
  • This study provides the first direct evidence for the mitochondrial origin of mouse germ plasm.
  • MVH is a reliable marker for identifying germ plasm components in mouse oocytes.
Keywords:
Germ plasmGerminal body-like structuresMVH proteinMouseOocytes

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