Cytoplasmic distribution of poly(A)-containing RNA in developing Necturus maculosus oocytes with reference to annulate lamellae.

The cytoplasmic distribution of poly(A)+ mRNA and its relationship to annulate lamellae were examined in developing Necturus maculosus oocytes by in situ hybridization with [3H]poly(U). The specificity of [3H]poly(U) binding was tested by incubating control ovarian sections with either KOH or RNase A before in situ hybridization. In both experiments, the silver grain densities were markedly reduced. Poly(A)+ RNA is uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm until the mid-growth phase and then later in vitellogenesis becomes localized in the subcortical ooplasm. The silver grain density in the cytoplasm varied during oogenesis and was greatest in previtellogenic oocytes. Annulate lamellae commonly are observed with the light microscope in oocytes prior to vitellogenesis. In such oocytes, the labeled mRNA probe is observed over cytoplasmic regions of annulate lamellae. The results suggests that a differential localization of messenger RNA occurs during oogenesis in Necturus maculosus. Furthermore, poly(A)+ RNA is present in cytoplasmic regions of annulate lamellae.