HISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE AND NUCLEIC ACIDS IN THE OOCYTES OF THE BLUEGILL, LEPOMIS MACHOCHIRUS (RAFINESQUE)

Abstract

1. Histochemical methods were employed for the localization of alkaline phosphatase, desoxyribonucleic acid, and ribonucleic acid in the oocytes of the bluegill, Lepomis machochirus (Rafinesque). 2. With the Gomori technique, as employed in this study, alkaline phosphatase was found only in the follicular epithelium, and was not detected in the oocyte proper. 3. While the Feulgen reaction for desoxyribonucleic acid was positive in the nuclei of the follicular epithelium, it was negative in the chromosomes of the germinal vesicles of the oocytes examined. 4. With the use of the Unna-Pappenheim stain and ribonuclease digestion, ribonucleic acid was localized in the cytoplasm of the follicular epithelium and in the cytoplasm of the oocytes. In the oocytes, the concentration of cytoplasmic ribonucleic acid was highest in the youngest oocytes; and it lessened as the egg cells increased in size. In all growth stages of the oocytes, the nucleoli were conspicuously ribonucleic acid positive. 5. Since the presence of alkaline phosphatase was not detected within the germinal vesicle, it could not be established that activity of the enzyme coincided with sites of nucleic acid abundance within the egg nuclei.