Ultrastructure of ovarian germ cells in the ostrich (Struthio camelus) embryo

Abstract

In this study, the ultrastructural development of germ cells in the ostrich embryo was analysed. The<br><br>nuclear organisation and morphological characteristics of cytoplasm in the developing germ cells, on<br><br>embryonic days 20, 26, and 36 and the day of hatching (5 samples from each stage) was analysed<br><br>using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Germ cells located in the cortex of left ovaries were<br><br>identified by their large size and centrally located nucleus, with a conspicuous nucleolus. In these<br><br>cells, the cytoplasm contained an abundance of mitochondria and free ribosomes. The structure of<br><br>Balbiani body, a villous-like elevation in wide intercellular space and desmosome junction between<br><br>two adjacent germ cells was also studied. The germ cells during embryonic development showed<br><br>structural differences in both the nucleus and cytoplasm.