Light and transmission electron microscopy on immature rabbit oocyte: A morphological study

Abstract

To succeed in in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization, and to detect any molecular and morphological changes in the rabbit oocyte ultrastructure, the characteristics of immature rabbit oocytes must first be described. The present study aimed to define in detail the ultrastructure of the immature rabbit oocyte as a specific biological model. Oocytes were collected by scraping the ovarian follicles of rabbits. A total of 20 ovaries were used in this study, from which 850 oocytes were obtained. The excellent and good-quality cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were prepared and analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The zona pellucida (ZP) is completely located around the oocyte and many round cumulus cells surrounded it. The oocyte was determined by a nucleus in the germinal vesicle stage and the ooplasm containing subcellular organelles such as smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi complexes, vacuoles and lipid droplets. The ultrastructure of rabbit oocytes is morphologically similar to that of other mammalian oocytes; however, there are slight differences that exist between them.

Keywords: Rabbit, ovary, oocyte, transmission electron microscopy.