Talk:Oocyte Development

Balbiani body

(Henneguy, 1887) is a cytoplasmic structure present in young immature oocytes in mammals and many other species
transient structure composed of a large number of mitochondria, Golgi complexes, endoplasmic reticulum.
ill-defined electron-dense granulofibrillar material that congregates at a perinuclear location
as the oocyte matures it moves to a peripheral location in the oocyte cortex (in some species corresponding to the future vegetal pole) and disperses (reviewed by Kloc et al., 2004).

Function

in some species contribute to the assembly and transportation of the germ plasm determinants to the cortex of the mature oocyte
In mammals ( “inductive”, “regulative” or “epigenetic” mode of germ cell formation) do not have germ plasm determinants, the function remains largely obscure may include
- the controlled amplification of mitochondria or the creation of an asymmetry or polarity in the oocyte.

Henneguy F. (1887). Note sur la vesicle de Balbiani. C. R. Hebd. Seances Soc. Biol. Ses. Fil. 39, 69.

Kloc M., Bilinski S. and Etkin L.D. (2004). The Balbiani body and germ cell determinants: 150 years later. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 59, 1-36.