We used affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies to characterize the distribution and function of XMAP230, a heat-stable microtubule-associated protein isolated from Xenopus eggs, during oogenesis. Immunoblots revealed that XMAP230 was present throughout oogenesis and early development, but was most abundant in late stage oocytes, eggs, and early embryos. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed t...

This study was carried out to determine population structure, growth and reproduction properties of barbel. A total of 198 individuals were sampled. Ages of samples were found between I and VI years, fork lengths between 4.3 and 16.6 cm and total weights between 1.2 and 65.8 g. Length-weight relationship was calculated as W=0.0146×L2.934. Munro’s phi prime index was estimated as 1.9...

• Suitability of Fertilized and Unfertilized Eggs of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter for the Egg Parasitoid Gonatocerus morrilli Rodrigo Krugner ............................................................................................................................................. 11 • A Method to Quantify Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Egg Maturation Mark Sisterson ...............................

Complete functional oocyte maturation involves many complex processes that occur within preovulatory follicles and are initiated and sustained by the gonadotropins, steroid hormones and many recognized and unrecognized factors. The product of oocyte maturation is a mature egg that has complete nuclear, plasma membrane and cytoplasmic changes that enable normal fertilization and subsequent devel...

A transient increase in intracellular Ca(2+) is the universal signal for egg activation at fertilization. Eggs acquire the ability to mount the specialized fertilization-specific Ca(2+) signal during oocyte maturation. The first Ca(2+) transient following sperm entry in vertebrate eggs has a slow rising phase followed by a sustained plateau. The molecular determinants of the sustained plateau a...

Trichogramma parasitoids are the most widely used biocontrol agents and play a crucial role in biological control of agricultural forest pests. Many studies have shown that feeding on carbohydrate rich diet can effectively improve their egg laying capacity longevity. However, few reported impact carbohydrate-rich parameters different species parasitoids. In this study, we compared differences b...

This study was carried out to determine population structure, growth and reproduction properties of barbel. A total of 198 individuals were sampled. Ages of samples were found between I and VI years, fork lengths between 4.3 and 16.6 cm and total weights between 1.2 and 65.8 g. Length-weight relationship was calculated as W=0.0146×L2.934. Munro’s phi prime index was estimated as 1.95, L∞ ...

Parthenogenesis and Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) techniques, offer a unique approach to manipulate the genetic composition of derived human embryonic stem cells - an essential step if the full opportunities for disease modeling, drug discovery or individualized stem cell therapy are to be realized. The present study describes the use of sheep oocytes to acquire expertise and establish m...