title: Balbiani body, nuage and sponge bodies--term plasm pathway players.
abstract: In many animal species, germ cells are specified by maternally provided, often asymmetrically localized germ cell determinant, termed the germ plasm. It has been shown that in model organisms such as Xenopus laevis, Danio rerio and Drosophila melanogaster germ plasm components (various proteins, mRNAs and mitochondria) are delivered to the proper position within the egg cell by germline specific organelles, i.e. Balbiani bodies, nuage accumulations and/or sponge bodies. In the present article, we review the current knowledge on morphology, molecular composition and functioning of these organelles in main lineages of arthropods and different ovary types on the backdrop of data derived from the studies of the model vertebrate species.
authors.affiliation: The Houston Methodist Hospital, The Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kloc
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jedrzejowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Waclaw
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tworzydlo
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: szczepan.bilinski@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Szczepan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bilinski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: Arthropods; Balbiani body; Nurse cells; Oocyte; Yolk nucleus