RNA synthesis in pig follicular oocytes. Autoradiographic and cytochemical study

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Abstract
RNA synthesis in pig oocytes was studied using autoradiography and Ag staining of the nucleolus organizing region. Both methods confirmed that oocytes from the smallest follicles (0.5-0.7 mm in diam. [diameter]) very intensely synthesize nuclear and nucleolar RNA. The nucleolar area of oocytes originating from follicles of 1.6-2.2 mm in diam. was labeled mainly on its periphery. After short pulse labeling (15 min) of oocytes from follicles of 5-6 mm in diam. only the nucleoplasm was labeled. The nucleolus had no significant labeling. The possibility that labeling of the compact nucleolus after a longer pulse represents migration of the newly synthesized nuclear RNA into the compact nucleolus, is discussed. The quantity of Ag-positive material in dictyate oocytes significantly decreased as pig follicles enlarged in diam. from 2 mm to 5-6 mm.