Summary
Yolk-platelet formation in the South African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis, was studied with the electron microscope. A dual mode of formation was found. One being associated with mitochondria, the other with the Golgi complex. These two ways of yolk formation are named yolk formation I and yolk formation II respectively. Yolk formation I involves an extensive uptake of pinocytotic vesicles, whilst yolk formation II takes place within large Golgi vesicles surrounded by a coat of lipid droplets entirely without participation of pinocytotic activities. Thus it is concluded that yolk platelet I formation represents an extraoocytic synthesis as opposed to the intraoocytic synthesis of yolk platelet II formation.
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The authors wish to thank Prof. Dr. K. S. Ludwig for his valuable criticism and encouragement during the course of this study, Dr. D. Hare for correcting the English manuscript and Messrs. C. Evers and H. Boffin for their capable assistance.
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Spornitz, U.M., Kress, A. Yolk-platelet formation in oocytes of Xenopus laevis (Daudin). Z. Zellforsch. 117, 235–251 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330740
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330740