Electron microscopy of particles similar to type-C virus in human oocytes.
Human oocytes in different stages of maturation were obtained by follicular aspiration from women given Clomovid and Gonadex. Particles similar to type-C virus were observed in 3 out of 16 oocytes. The particle were irregularily distributed along the oocyte membrane. They were seen both in a state of budding and as free lying in the perivitelline space. Reverse transcriptase activity was detected in 3 out of 9 samples of follicular fluid obtained from women other than those yielding the oocytes. It is assumed that these findings indicate the expression of endogeneous retroviruses in human oocytes.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000382:microbiology
D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase