Cytochrome oxidase activity of mitochondria in Xenopus laevis previtellogenic oocytes.

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Abstract
The cytochrome oxidase activity of mitochondria using 3,3''-diaminobenzidine was investigated in X. laevis (the South African clawed toad) previtellogenic oocytes. Maximum activity was observed in 200 .mu.m oocytes. Late previtellogenic oocytes were found to have reduced cytochrome oxidase activity compared with early and mid-previtellogenic oocytes. Cytomorphometry, at the EM level, revealed that the number of cristae/length of mitochondrial profile remains essentially at the same level compared with the previous stages. The results are in agreement with biochemical observations and suggest that 3,3''-diaminobenzidine cytochemistry can be used successfully as a link between ultrastructural morphology and biochemistry.