Role of apoptosis and Fas/FasL system in the oogenesis of the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata.
In the present paper we investigated the role played by apoptosis during oogenesis in the cartilaginous fish Torpedo marmorata. TEM, TUNEL and immunohistochemical techniques were employed to specifically reveal morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis in specimens from birth to sexual maturity. Data obtained demonstrate that apoptosis occurs in prefollicular oocyte selection, in maintaining the homeostasis of granulosa in healthy growing oocyte and in resorbing atretic follicles. In this respect, the involvement of apoptosis in Torpedo marmorata oogenesis closely parallels that found in mammals, thus confirming that strategies of germ cell selection among vertebrates have been evolutionarily preserved.
Loredana
Ricchiari
R
Department of Evolutive and Comparative Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. andreucc@dgbm.unina.it
Barbara
D'Onghia
D
Annamaria
Liguoro
L
Stefania
Tammaro
T
Maria
Motta Chiara
MC
Silvana
Filosa
F
Piero
Andreuccetti
A
Marina
Prisco
P
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D014101:Torpedo / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor