title: Histochemical Characterization of Oocytes in the Pink Cuskeel (Genypterus blacodes).
abstract: In the present study we histochemically and lectinhistochemically characterized the growing oocytes of the pink cuskeel (Genypterus blacodes). We used histochemical methods for the localization and characterization of glycoconjugates (GCs) and lectin histochemical techniques for the identification of specific sugar residues. We analyzed presence and distribution of GCs in the different structures of the growing follicles (cortical alveoli, globules, yolk granules and zona radiata). During the initial stage of vitellogenesis, the oocytes presented small yolk granules composed of GCs that gradually increased during exogenous vitellogenesis. These GCs contained moderate quantities of α-D-mannose, D-glucose, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. The cortical alveoli contained both neutral and carboxylated GCs, and lectin techniques detected N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose and L-fucose. The zona radiata showed a strong positive reaction to PAS and it reacted weakly with more specific techniques, such as KOH/PA*S and PA/Bh/KOH/PAS. This structure showed GCs with oxidizable vicinal diols, O-acyl sugars and sialic acid residues with different substitution types and presented N-acetylgalactosamine and L-fucose specific residues. The oocytes follicular envelope evidenced neutral and acidic non-sulfated GCs and high concentrations of α-D-mannose, D-glucose, galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine. The intergranular cytoplasmic GCs were mainly rich in α-D-mannose, D-glucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. These results enhance the comprehension of the structure and functionality of the pink cuskeel ovarian follicles, and provide a useful tool for the study of this tissue in other teleost species.
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), FCEyN, CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250. (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina.|2 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Conicet), Argentina.
authors.forename: Stefanía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: 3 Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petcoff
authors.affiliation: 3 Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.
authors.forename: Roberto O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Freijo
authors.affiliation: 2 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Conicet), Argentina.|4 Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 y 118, (1900) La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Enrique L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Portiansky
authors.affiliation: 2 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Conicet), Argentina.|5 Instituto de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 60 y 118, (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudio G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Barbeito
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), FCEyN, CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250. (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina.|2 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Conicet), Argentina.|6 Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo 1, Mar del Plata, General Pueyrredón (7600), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gustavo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), FCEyN, CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Funes 3250. (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alcira O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Díaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Genypterus blacodes; Glycoconjugates; Histochemistry; Lectins; Oocytes