Abstract

Activated oocytes of Xenopus laevis were injected with centriole preparations isolated either from spermatozoa of loach fish Misgurnus fossilis or from rat liver. These injections induced the development of cytasters in the ooplasm and egg cleavage. Electron microscopic study of cytasters was made at the stage that corresponded to interphase between first and second cleavage divisions. This study revealed in cytasters singleton centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material and numerous microtubules. Surprisingly, the ultrastructure of centrioles in cytasters corresponded to that of juvenile, newly formed vertebrate centrioles, whereas the injected preparations contained only adult mature centrioles. We suggested that xenogenic centrioles injected to Xenopus laevis oocytes could dissolve after formation of centrioles made from molecules of oocyte origin. A special mechanism that eliminates male centrioles after egg fertilization is speculated.