Abstract
IT is now well documented for various species that the progress of early development depends to a large extent on materials synthesised and stored in the oocyte during oogenesis. A well studied example of this phenomenon is the synthesis and accumulation of both ribosomal and “informational” RNA in amphibian oocytes1–3. The extent of the contribution of oocyte RNA to early mammalian development is, however, not completely clear, since mouse embryos initiate rRNA synthesis at least as early as the four-cell stage of embryogenesis4,5 and, unlike certain lower forms, the progress of early cleavage in the mouse is interfered with by inhibitors of RNA synthesis6–8. On the other hand, it is clear that growing mouse oocytes synthesise and store RNA9–12, such that the ovulated egg contains approximately the same amount of RNA on a volume basis as the amphibian egg (calculated from refs 13 and 14).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown, D. D., and Dawid, I. B., Science, 160, 272 (1968).
Davidson, E., and Hough, B. R., J. molec. Biol., 56, 491 (1971).
Davidson, E. H., in Oogenesis (edit. by Biggers, J. D., and Schuetz, A. W.), 129 (University Park Press, Baltimore, 1972).
Woodland, H. R., and Graham, C. F., 221, 327 (1969).
Piko, L., Devl Biol., 21, 257 (1970).
Monesi, V., Molinaro, M., Spalletta, E., and Davoli, C., Expl Cell Res., 59, 197 (1970).
Tasca, R. J., and Hillman, N., Nature, 225, 1022 (1970).
Golbus, M. S., Calarco, P. G., and Epstein, C. J., J. exp. Zool., 186, 207 (1973).
Oakberg, E. F., Mutat. Res., 6, 155 (1968).
Chouinard, L. A., J. Cell Sci., 9, 637 (1971).
Moore, G. P. M., Lintern-Moore, S., Peters, H., and Faber, M., J. Cell Biol., 60, 416 (1974).
Bachvarova, R., Devl Biol., 40, 52 (1974).
LaMarca, M. J., Smith, L. D., and Strobel, M. C., Devl Biol., 34, 106 (1973).
Olds, P. J., Stern, S., and Biggers, J. D., J. exp. Zool., 186, 39 (1973).
Krarup, T., Pedersen, T., and Faber, M., Nature, 224, 187 (1969).
Peters, H., Byshov, A. G., Lintern-Moore, S., Faber, M., and Andersen, M., J. Reprod. Fert., 35, 139 (1973).
Pedersen, T., Peters, H., J. Reprod. Fert., 17, 555 (1968).
Brambell, F. W.R., Proc. R. Soc., B 103, 258 (1928).
Brown, D. D., and Littna, E., J. molec. Biol., 8, 669 (1964).
Brown, D. D., and Littna, E., J. molec. Biol., 8, 688 (1964).
Davidson, E. H., Gene Acitivity in Animal Development (Academic New York, 1968).
Crippa, M., Nature, 227, 1138 (1970).
Biggers, J. D., in The Biology of the Blastocyst (edit. by Blandau, R. J.), 319 (University of Chicago Press, 1971).
Donahue, R. P., J. exp. Zool., 169, 237 (1968).
Stern, S., and Wassarman, P. M., J. exp. Zool., 189, 275 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WASSARMAN, P., LETOURNEAU, G. RNA synthesis in fully-grown mouse oocytes. Nature 261, 73–74 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261073a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/261073a0
This article is cited by
-
Mechanisms by which in vitro meiotic arrest and sexual maturity improve developmental potential of mouse oocytes
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Meiotic arrest with roscovitine and follicular fluid improves cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes by promoting chromatin de-condensation and gene transcription
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Delay of ZGA initiation occurred in 2-cell blocked mouse embryos
Cell Research (2003)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
