The structure and polysaccharide cytochemistry of the jelly envelopes of the egg of the frog, Rana pipiens

✍ Scribed by J. H. Steinke; D. G. Benson Jr.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1970
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 762 KB
• Volume: 130
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0362-2525
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1051300107

✦ Synopsis

The structure and polysaccharide constitution of the jelly capsuIe of the egg of R a m pipiens is described. Microscopic examination of the jelly capsule revealed the presence of five discrete jelly layers that differed clearly in their response to selected cytochemical tests. These layers were classified as M1-through M5 from the inner to the outermost layer. A sixth layer occasionally could be observed between M3 and M4.

All layers contain neutral mucopolysaccharides. In addition layers M1 and M3 contain sulphated mucopolysaccharides, M2 and M4 contain non-sulphated acid muco- polysaccharjdes, and layer M5 contains both sulphated and non-sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides. M2 inay also contain a small quantity of sulphated mucopolysaccharides. The layer that occasionally appears between M3 and M4 is probably an area in which free acidic groups are in higher concentration than i n adjacent areas rather than being a discrete jelly layer. Neither hyaluronic acid nor sialic acid was localized by the methods employed.

The possible significance of some of these constituents is discussed.