The karyosphere capsule in oocytes of hibernating frogs Rana temporaria contains actin, lamins, and SnRNP

Abstract

The nuclei of late vitellogenic oocytes of hibernating frogs Rana temporaria were studied. During this period of oogenesis, chromosomes are inactivated and surrounded by a fibrillar karyosphere capsule. Formation of the karyosphere capsule in grass frog oocytes has been investigated in detail at the light and electron microscopic levels, but the molecular composition of the capsule remains uncertain. Immunofluorescent staining of whole-mount preparations of oocyte nuclei revealed that the karyosphere capsule contained actin, lamins A, C, and B and snRNPs proteins. A putative role of these proteins in formation of the karyosphere capsule is discussed.