title: Role of apoptosis and Fas/FasL system in the oogenesis of the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutive and Comparative Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. andreucc@dgbm.unina.it
authors.forename: Ricchiari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loredana
authors.forename: D'Onghia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: Liguoro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Annamaria
authors.forename: Tammaro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stefania
authors.forename: Motta Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: Filosa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silvana
authors.forename: Andreuccetti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piero
authors.forename: Prisco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marina
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor