Figure 8
SEM images of defolliculated X. laevis and X. borealis stage V–VI oocytes prior to and following protease treatment.
Oocytes from X. laevis (a–f) and X. borealis (g–l) were viewed by SEM following treatment with protease for 1 min (b,e,h,k) and 1.5 mins (c,f,i,l). At higher magnifications the typically contoured surface and pores of the vitelline membrane of untreated X. laevis (d) and X. borealis (j) become apparent, scale bar = 10 μm. One minute protease treatment of oocytes affects the vitelline membrane of X. laevis (e) and X. borealis (k) differently, scale bar = 10 μm. Microvilli projections on the plasma membranes of X. laevis (f) and X. borealis (l) oocytes show different morphology and density, scale bar = 2 μm. Each panel represents a separate oocyte.
