RESULTS
The cryofracture technique seems to have provided images with greater
internal detail of the oocytes. Thus, one can observe oocytes of
different size classes permeated by a conjunctive membrane (Fig. 1a). In
the fractured oocytes, abundant yolk vesicles and their imprints in the
cytosol were observed, when the vesicles detached during maceration
(Fig. 1b-e, h). In addition, it was possible to observe a region with
funneling and several folds of the membrane and zona pellucida,
corresponding to the micropyle (Fig. 1h).
As the structures were enlarged, evident columnar theca cells were
observed (Fig. 1b-d, 2a-b), which, together with the squamous follicular
cells (Fig. 1b, e, g), form the envelope of the oocyte (Fig. 1a-i). The
communication between these cells, mainly between the follicular cells
and the oocyte, is carried out by a junction zone between these
components, called the zona pellucida (Fig. 1b-g, 2a). It is noteworthy
that the zona pellucida appears as an irregular region with several
pores along its length (Fig. 1f-g).
Finally, it should be noted that the connective membrane observed in the
ovaries is organized in the form of loops and reaches all the germ
cells, with emphasis on the projection of blood vessels that guarantee
the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the oocytes (Fig. 1i, 2c-d).