Expression of Intermediate Filaments in the Balbiani Body and Ovarian Follicular Wall of the Japanese Quail <b><i>(Coturnix japonica)</i></b>

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the distribution of 6 groups of intermediate filaments (IFs; cytokeratins, CKs, vimentin, synemin, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein and lamins) in oocytes and follicular walls of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) during their development using immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques. A distinctly vimentin- and synemin-positive Balbiani body, which is a transient accumulation of organelles (mitochondria, Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum) that occurs in the oocytes of all vertebrates including birds, could be detected in the oocytes of primordial and early pre-vitellogenic follicles. In larger pre-vitellogenic follicles, the Balbiani body has dispersed and the positivity of the granulosa cells appeared to concentrate in the basal portion of their cytoplasm. Our ultrastructural data demonstrated that the matrix of the Bal-biani body consists of fine IFs, which may play a role in the formation and dispersion of the Balbiani body. Of the CKs studied (panCK, CK5, CK7, CK8, CK14, CK15, CK18 and CK19), only CK5 showed a slight positive staining in both the theca externa and the Balbiani bodies of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. In conclusion, our data, which describe the changes in avian IF protein expression during folliculogenesis, suggest that the functions of the IFs (vimentin and synemin) of oocytes and follicular walls are not primarily mechanical but may be involved in the transient tethering of mitochondria in the area of the Balbiani body and in the gain of endocrine competence during the differentiation of granulosa cells.

The comprehensive mechanisms underlying nonhierarchical follicular development in geese (Anser cygnoides)

“…The cell layers are primarily responsible for the transport of nutrients, mechanical support of growing oocytes, and the biosynthesis of steroids, which are important for regulating the rapid growth of follicles (Guraya, 1989;Wojtysiak et al, 2011;Rodler and Sinowatz, 2013). Recent data have further confirmed that the follicle wall secretes immunity peptides (Abdelsalam et al, 2010) and determines the fate of follicles, advancing in development or undergoing atresia (Quirk et al, 2004).…”

Coordination of cellular differentiation, polarity, mitosis and meiosis – New findings from early vertebrate oogenesis

“…The Balbiani body (Bb) is a large RNA-protein granule that is universally conserved in oocytes of insects (Cox & Spradling, 2003; Jaglarz et al, 2003), arthropods (Jedrzejowska & Kubrakiewicz, 2007; VonWittich, 1845), fish (Marlow & Mullins, 2008b), frogs (Dumont, 1978), birds (Carlson et al, 1996; Rodler & Sinowatz, 2013; Ukeshima & Fujimoto, 1991), rodents (Pepling et al, 2007; Weakley, 1967), primates (Barton & Hertig, 1972), and humans (Albamonte et al, 2013; Hertig, 1968). In all cases ultrastructural analysis shows that the Bb is located at the nuclear periphery and is composed of aggregated mitochondria and electron dense material, likely corresponding to RNA.…”

Ultrastructure of the gastro intestinal tract of healthy Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) using light and scanning electron microscopy

“…Although the intestinal histology of Japanese quail has been used as an investigation method in numerous experiments ( Berg et al., 2001 , Grote et al., 2008 , He et al., 2014 , Rodler and Sinowatz, 2013 , Sinclair et al., 2012 , Simova-Curd et al., 2013 ), there are very few references pertaining to the general histological features of the healthy Japanese quail intestinal tract. The only comprehensive information can be found in a book by Theodore C. Fitzgerald which contains comprehensively illustrated hand drawn histological images with explanation of features.…”