可口革囊星虫胚胎与幼体的发育

解剖经降温8-10℃刺激30-40h后的可口革囊星虫(Phascolosomaesculenta)亲体取得精、卵,用人工授精法获得的受精卵进行胚胎和幼体发育的研究。结果表明:可口革囊星虫的卵为圆形或椭圆形,卵的大小为120μm×142μm-125μm×148μm。精子由头部、中段和尾部组成,全长约为32-40μm。在海水盐度23.8ppt、pH8.1、温度15℃的条件下,精、卵不能受精;在海水盐度23.8ppt、pH8.1、温度20℃的条件下,精卵能受精,但胚胎发育到原肠胚期停止;在海水盐度23.8ppt、pH8.1条件下,25℃、30℃和35℃的不同水温,精卵均能受精,受精卵发育到初期海球幼虫分别需要72h0min、47h08min和42h53min。在海水盐度23.8-25.5ppt,pH8.1-8.2,温度28-30℃条件下,从初期海球幼虫发育到稚虫需要15-20d。     

可口革囊星虫体液细胞的显微和亚显微结构

本文利用光学显微镜和透射电镜研究了可口革囊星虫体液细胞的显微和亚显微结构。研究发现该星虫体液中含有红细胞、颗粒细胞、桑椹胚样细胞和卵母细胞。可口革囊星虫的红细胞数量较多,红细胞呈盘状,从一边或两边略凹陷,最典型的是从三边发育的二裂片内陷,直径为24μm-32μm。圆形红细胞,核位于中央,细胞内很少有细胞器,细胞质内充满嗜锇的血红蛋白。体腔液内含有两种类型的颗粒细胞。Ⅰ型细胞含有大量的小颗粒,是典型的变形细胞,细胞质里含有大量的线粒体、最典型的高尔基体、内质网和各种形状不一的小池。Ⅱ型细胞含有大量的嗜锇细胞质。在可口革囊星虫体液中含有不同发育时期的卵母细胞。     

可口革囊星虫受精过程及早期卵裂的细胞学变化

为探究可口革囊星虫(Phascolosoma esculenta)受精过程中精子入卵、极体排放、雌雄原核的形成与结合以及早期卵裂的特点,为胚胎发育机制研究奠定基础及指导人工育苗,显微观察了可口革囊星虫卵母细胞的形态;用荧光染色剂HOECHST33258对已固定的成熟卵及受精卵进行染色的方法,在荧光显微镜下观察了可口革囊星虫受精过程及第一与第二次卵裂的细胞学变化。成熟卵呈椭圆形,卵膜较厚,核区偏位,染色体排列整齐。在水温30℃-31℃、盐度23条件下,授精后5min-10min,精子完成入卵;授精后10min-20min,完成第一次减数分裂、释放第一极体;授精后20min-30min,完成第二次减数分裂、放出第二极体,部分受精卵的第一极体分裂为二;授精后30min-40min,雌、雄原核形成,并相互靠近向卵中央迁移;授精后40min-50min,雌、雄原核在卵中央结合成合子核;授精后50min-70min及70min-90min分别完成第一及第二次卵裂。可口革囊星虫的受精过程及早期卵裂的细胞学特点为:1)成熟卵是处在第一次减数分裂中期的初级卵母细胞,具有受精能力;2)精子入卵位点是随机的,存在多精入卵现象;3)雌、雄原核以融合方式结合成合子核;4)第一及第二次卵裂均为经裂、不等裂。     

可口革囊星虫体内纤溶酶的初步研究

目的从可口革囊星虫中寻找到纤溶酶,并对其进行初步研究。方法采用匀浆、抽提离心、Sephacryl S-300凝胶过滤等方法对可口革囊星虫纤溶酶初步分离,用纤维蛋白平板法和合成发色底物法检测其纤溶活性,并用该酶进行体外溶血凝块实验。结果可口革囊星虫内脏中存在纤溶酶。此酶既直接降解纤维蛋白又间接激活纤溶酶原,它对体外血凝块有明显溶解作用。结论可口革囊星虫内脏中存在着一种既具直接降解纤维蛋白作用又具激活纤溶酶原作用的纤溶酶。     

基于线粒体COⅠ基因序列的东南沿海可口革囊星虫遗传多样性分析

为了解我国东南沿海可口革囊星虫自然群体的遗传多样性及遗传结构, 以线粒体COⅠ基因为分子标记, 对浙江象山(XS)与温岭(WL)、福建宁德(ND)、广东湛江(ZJ)4个可口革囊星虫自然群体的80个样本的COⅠ基因片段进行PCR扩增、序列测定和分析。结果表明, 在815 bp长度的核苷酸片段中, A、T、C、G碱基的平均含量分别为29.8%、31.0%、22.6%和16.6%, A+T含量(60.8%)高于C+G含量(49.2%), 表现出较强的AT偏好性。共检测到29个核苷酸变异位点, 定义了29种单倍型, 总群体单倍型多样性指数(H_d)、核甘酸多样性指数(P_i)及平均核苷酸差异数(K)分别为0.932、0.0036及2.8902, 表现出高的H_d和低的P_i。单倍型邻接关系树的拓扑结构简单, 未呈现明显的地理谱系结构。群体内的遗传距离为0.0027—0.0040, 群体间的遗传距离为0.0032—0.0040。两两群体间的遗传分化系数(F_st)和分子方差分析(AMOVA)表明, 可口革囊星虫的遗传变异主要来自于群体内, 而群体间无显著分化。中性检验和核苷酸不配对分布结果揭示, 可口革囊星虫经历了群体历史扩张事件, 大致发生在4.6万年前的更新世晚期。     

可口革囊星虫消化道的形态及组织学结构

对可口革囊星虫(Phascolosoma esculenta)消化道各部分结构进行了形态学和组织学观察,表明可口革囊星虫消化道由翻吻、咽、食道、肠、直肠和肛门组成。翻吻收缩性很强;肠道极长,沿纺锤肌螺旋缠绕成肠索。消化道管壁由内向外分为粘膜层、粘膜下层、肌层和外膜。粘膜上皮主要由柱状细胞组成。除肠外,消化道上皮细胞均有发达的纤毛,肠上皮细胞主要具发达的微绒毛;粘膜下层及肌层的发达程度因消化道的部位不同而异。     

地钱卵发育超微结构和细胞化学的研究

采用电镜和细胞化学技术对地钱(Marchantia polymorpha)卵发生过程进行了研究,根据卵发生过程中细胞化学和超微结构特征可将卵发育过程分为幼卵、中期卵和成熟卵3个阶段.幼卵阶段,卵细胞、腹沟细胞及颈沟细胞间有发达的胞间连丝,但卵与腹沟细胞间的胞间连丝很快退化,幼卵细胞内具大量透明的囊泡,均匀分布于细胞质中;卵发育中期,突出特征是卵细胞质内产生嗜锇性的脂滴,位于囊泡中,与此同时,腹沟细胞退化,其细胞质内产生大型囊泡,囊泡内分泌物与卵细胞外的物质类似,呈PAS反应阳性,表明该物质应为多糖类;卵成熟时,腹沟细胞和颈沟细胞完全退化,卵细胞外包被大量粘性多糖类物质,卵细胞核表面不规则,产生明显的核外突,众多的小泡围绕着细胞核,脂滴聚集成簇,卵细胞内其他细胞器不易区分.卵发育过程中,质体不含淀粉粒,线粒体退化,高尔基体相对发达.地钱卵发育的这些特征显著区分于蕨类植物.     

高效液相色谱法测定可口革囊星的ACE活性

目的利用高效液相色谱法测定可口革囊星虫酶解物中具有抑制血管紧张素转化酶(ACE)活性的活性肽。方法用HPLC测定血管紧张素转换酶抑制肽活性,在该色谱条件下,可通过测定由ACE水解马尿酰组氨酰亮氨酸后产生的马尿酸峰面积或含量得到酶解液的活性。结果酶解物在质量浓度为0.48mg/ml时对ACE的抑制率为17.62%。结论可口革囊星虫蛋白经碱性蛋白酶水解后得到的酶解物活性较高。     

可口革囊星虫的精子发生及精子结构

为了探究可口革囊星虫(Phascolosoma esculenta)精子发生过程及结构上的特殊性,用显微及亚显微技术研究了可口革囊星虫的精子发生和精子结构。可口革囊星虫的精巢位于收吻肌基部,为一曲折的带状组织。成熟精巢内可观察到精原细胞、精母细胞以及精细胞等各阶段的生精细胞。在精子形成早期,很多精细胞脱离精巢,以精细胞团的形式掉落到体腔中。精细胞团内的精细胞同步发育为精子后,脱离精子团进入肾管。成熟精子由头部和尾部组成。头部由钟形顶体与鼓形细胞核构成。顶体后段下包于精核的前端。顶体分内、中、外三层,外层有横隔;顶体下腔内有颗粒状物质不均匀分布,中央有一束丝状纤维组成的顶体棒。核物质电子密度高,核内含空泡。无核前窝,具浅的核后窝。尾部分中段和末段,中段由6个(偶见5个或7个)线粒体围绕近、远端中心粒构成;末段细长鞭状,由轴丝及包绕轴丝的质膜组成,轴丝为典型的"9 2"结构。分析认为:可口革囊星虫精子发生过程以及超微结构上存在特殊的结构与机制:①精细胞团保证了精子形成的同步性;②顶体后段下包于精核的前端使精子头部小而灵巧,利于快速运动;③顶体的横隔使精子顶体的牢固性增强,确保受精时顶体反应的正常进行;④中段较多的线粒体使精子具有更强的环境适应性,有利于有效的受精。     

可口革囊星虫肾管纤毛的分布及结构特征

为了解可口革囊星虫(Phascolosoma esculenta)肾管纤毛的结构特点及其功能,采用显微及亚显微技术观察研究了可口革囊星虫肾管纤毛的分布位置及形态结构特征。结果表明,肾管外膜多纤毛细胞表面簇生纤毛、内部柱状上皮细胞与立方上皮细胞游离面着生分散的纤毛,肾口内面也着生纤毛。纤毛结构由纤毛干、过渡区、基体及其纤毛小根组成;纤毛干由"9+2"结构的轴丝外被纤毛膜构成;纤毛干与基体之间为过渡区,中央微管终止于此,外周双联微管通过过渡区和基体的外周轴丝相连;基体呈圆筒状,为"9+0"结构;纤毛小根分长根和短根,均为基体发出的由微细原纤维组成的圆锥形结构,具间隔70 nm的明显横纹。肾管纤毛可能在促进体腔液流动、提高肾管对体腔液的过滤作用以及引导成熟精卵进入肾管等方面发挥作用。     

Ovarian morphology of the Japanese eel in Mikawa Bay

Annual changes in gonadal maturation of female Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in sea water were investigated histologically over 5 years in the Mikawa Bay, Japan, where they occurred throughout the year except in March. Almost all immature Japanese eels (yellow eels) occurred mainly from April to September, and they were rare after November. In contrast, maturing Japanese eels (silver eels) occurred from October to February. The gonado‐somatic index ( I _G) and oocyte diameters of yellow eels were <1·0 and 150 μm, respectively, and oocytes were at the peri‐nucleolus or the oil droplet stages. The I _G and oocyte diameters of silver eels were greater than those of yellow eels and most oocytes developed to the primary yolk globule stage. The numbers of silver eels lacking oocytes at the primary yolk globule stage increased after January in Mikawa Bay, although I _G and oocyte diameters remained unchanged. In contrast, silver eels caught at the mouth of the bay in January possessed oocytes that had advanced to the secondary yolk globule stage. These observations indicate that oocyte development changes seasonally, especially after winter in Mikawa Bay.     

Reproductive biology of the armoured catfish Loricariichthys castaneus (Castelnau, 1855) in Lajes reservoir,southeastern Brazil

Sex ratio, gonadal development, breeding season and fecundity of the armoured catfish Loricariichthys castaneus were described to assess its reproductive strategy in a Brazilian tropical reservoir. In total, 226 specimens (199 females and 27 males) were captured from September 2005 to August 2006 and examined in the laboratory. Females outnumbered males and achieved sizes larger than 330 mm TL. Oocyte development, determined by histological analysis, was asynchronous with oocyte size, ranging from pre‐spawning (27–270 μm) to spawning (243–3460 μm), followed by a sharp decrease in the mean oocyte diameter postspawning (590–730 μm) as the spawning proceeded. Spawning occurred throughout most of the year, peaking in August–September and reaching a low in April–May, according to variations in GSI and frequencies of stages of gonadal development. Batch fecundity ranged from 242 to 833 vitellogenic oocytes (relative fecundity = 2.27 oocytes g^?1), averaging 483 oocytes, and was positively related to gonad weight (P = 0.00003). Oocyte diameters ranged from 0.027 to 5.59 mm, with vitellogenic diameters ranging from 2.08 to 5.59 mm. Continuous development of oocytes throughout the year suggests that L. castaneus presents indeterminate fecundity and is a batch‐spawner. These attributes, associated with parental care and a wide reproductive period, correspond to an equilibrium strategy that has proved to be effective in the Lajes reservoir.     

The reproductive biology of the deep-sea asteroids Benthopecten simplex (Perrier), Pectinaster filholi Perrier,and Pontaster tenuispinus Düben & Koren (phanerozonia : benthopectinidae) from the rockall trough

Samples of three species of benthopectinid starfish were collected in a time-series from stations in the northern Rockall Trough. A detailed study was made of the reproductive biology of Benthopecten simplex (Perrier) from a fixed station at 2200 m. Studies of the gametogenic cycles of Pectinaster fllholi Perrier and Pontaster tenuispinus Düben & Koren from less regular and more scattered samplings are also presented.The oogenic cycles of the three species are similar. Growing oocytes line the ovary wall and come to lie in the lumen only when well developed. Accessory cells surrounding young oocytes become more numerous as the oocytes develop. Vitellogenesis begins when oocyte diameter reaches ≈ 250–300 μm and oocytes attain a maximum diameter of 950 μm in Benthopecten simplex, 850 μm in Pectinaster filholi, and 800 μm in Pontaster tenuispinus. Unspent oocytes are broken down by phagocytes and degenerate ovaries become filled with the breakdown products. Internal degeneration of large oocytes is not common.Size frequency data show a dominance of previtellogenic oocytes and a pattern of continuous growth of vitellogenic oocytes. There is no evidence of synchrony of growth between individuals and no suggestion of seasonal reproduction is evident from summated sample data.Spermatogenesis follows the pattern previously established for deep-sea asteroids. A mature male remains in a state of constant ripeness, ready to shed sperm at any chance encounter with a female releasing ripe eggs. There is no evidence of brooding in any of the species and from the large size and yolk content of the egg, we can infer direct lecithotrophic development demersally.     

The fecundity of the walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma (Pallas), spawning in Canadian waters

The ovaries of 113 walleye pollock from a resident stock in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia were examined for determination of fecundity. Oocytes were sized and counted in 20 μm intervals of diameter. Without exception, ovaries contained a pronounced bimodal distribution of oocyte diameters with peaks at 100 and 400–600 μm. Oocytes ≥ 180 μm diameter were undergoing trophoplasmic growth leading to hydration. 'Apparent' fecundity is defined as the estimated number of yolked oocytes ≥ 180 μm diameter, regardless of potential resorbtion. Previous workers have not shown that significant resorbtion takes place in the post-spawned ovary. Total oocyte complement (≥40μm diameter) was best expressed by a linear model where F_t = 33004 f.l. – 869627, where f.l. = fork length in cm and r = 0.86. Estimates of F_t , ranged from 117700 to 1394 100 oocytes ≥40μm. Age was weakly related to fecundity, reflecting large individual differences in annual growth after age 4 years. Apparent fecundity best suited a linear model where F_a = 23522 f.l. – 599713 and r = 0.91. Estimates of F_a fell within the range 58 379–1 151 527. Relative fecundity (eggs g⁻¹) decreased over most of the length range encountered in the sample. The average-sized female in Georgia Strait is twice as fecund as her counterparts in the north-western Pacific Ocean, containing some 390 000 to 420 000 oocytes 7ge;180 μm diameter compared to about 200 000 oocytes in a north-western female of comparable length.     

Change in the concentrations of iron in different size fractions during a phytoplankton bloom in controlled ecosystem enclosures

To observe micronutrient dynamics in the plankton ecosystem, controlled ecosystem enclosure (CEE) experiments were conducted in Saanich Inlet, B.C., Canada. Two CEEs (2.5 m in diameter, 16 m in length, one for Fe studies and the other for biological studies) were launched for the period 22 July to 5 August 1996 and enriched with 10 μM nitrate and 5.2 nM Fe (13% of total Fe) on day 1. Sampling from three integrated depths, intervals 0-4, 4-8 and 8-12 m, was performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Iron concentrations were measured for five size fractions: >25 μm particles, 2-25 μm particles, 0.2-2 μm particles, 0.2 μm-200 kDa small colloidal particles and <200 kDa soluble species. The sediment in the Fe enclosure was also collected on every sampling day after day 2 and its Fe was determined. Size-fractionated particulate organic carbon and total chlorophyll-a were also analyzed.The Fe in small colloidal particles (200 kDa-0.2 μm) comprised 78% of the traditionally defined dissolved phase (<0.2 μm) on day 1. Of all the size fractions of Fe, the small colloidal particulate fraction decreased most significantly during the phytoplankton bloom. In the dissolved fraction (<0.2 μm), the small colloidal particle fraction comprised 79% of the decrease. The decrease in concentration of Fe in small colloidal particles was larger than that of total Fe from day 1 to day 4. In contrast, the >25 μm Fe particles increased over the same period. These results suggest that Fe in small colloidal particles changed to >25 μm Fe particles during phytoplankton growth. A large amount of Fe was kept in the surface layer with the phytoplankton, and transported to the deep layer by phytoplankton sedimentation, at the end of the bloom. From these results, the small colloidal particulate Fe seems to be the most dynamic size fraction and a high percentage of Fe in small colloidal particles changed to large particles due to chemical/physical aggregation and/or physical adsorption to suspended particles such as phytoplankton cells.     

The effect of okadaic acid on meiotic maturation of canine oocytes of different size

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of okadic acid (OA), a potent inhibitor of seronine/treonine 1 and 2A phosphatase, on meiotic resumption and progression in canine oocytes with different diameters. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries of bitches at different oestrous phases. In Experiment 1, to determine the optimal concentration of OA (0.5 or 2 μM), the oocytes were pre-incubated for 1, 3, and 20 h in TCM 199 supplemented with 20% SCE and thereafter cultured in the same medium without OA. In Experiment 2, the selected oocytes were divided into three groups according to their diameter: <110 μm, 110-120 μm, >120 μm, and pre-incubated in OA 0.5 μM for 1 h. Oocytes were cultured in vitro as previously described. After 72 h of IVM, in Experiment 1, significantly more oocytes reached MII stage with 0.5 μM for 1 h (30.8% P <0.001%) for oocytes cultured in other OA condition and in control group. In Experiment 2, OA induced a significantly higher incidence of MII oocytes in the 110-120 μm and >120 μm groups (P <0.001) compared to control group, but a significantly higher proportion of the oocytes >120 μm pre-incubated with OA progressed to MII (51.3% P <0.001). In contrast, smaller oocytes (<110) did not develop to MII stage with or without OA. In conclusion, treatment of canine oocytes with 0.5 μM for 1 h, improves meiotic maturation. The culture of fully grown (>120 μm) oocytes with OA at the onset of in vitro maturation can result in a higher frequency of meiotic maturation.     

Oogenesis and larval development in Micromaldane spp. (Polychaeta: Capitellida: Maldanidae)

Summary

The morphology of larval development and some aspects of oogenesis are described in Micromaldane spp. from eastern Australia. All four species breed throughout the year, and in all the oocytes are released into the coelom prior to vitellogenesis. Micromaldane androgyne, M. pamelae and M. rubrospermatheca all have solitary oogenesis, while Micromaldane nutricula has “nurse” cells attached to the oocytes throughout vitellogenesis. Mature females of Micromaldane nutricula brood up to two groups of 1–4 directly developing larvae at a time. Newly fertilized eggs are ellipsoidal, 150x350 μm. No ciliation is visible during development. Larvae leave the tube after developing 12 chaetigers. All Micromaldane androgyne adults brood a single batch of two or three directly developing larvae at a time. Newly deposited eggs are 1 mm long and 150 μm in diameter. No ciliation is visible on the larvae during development. Larvae develop 19 chaetigers before leaving the tube. Mature females of Micromaldane pamelae brood single batches of up to 31 larvae at a time. Mature oocytes are ellipsoidal 300 X 150 μm. Larvae show a distinct neurotroch in early stages of development, but this is resorbed as chaetigers are formed. Larvae probably leave the tube at the 16-chaetiger stage.

Comparisons are made with other polychaetes and members of the Capitellida. Micromaldane spp. may be useful in the study of reproductive effort and covariables, outlined for polychaetes by Olive (1985), such as body size with longevity and fecundity (inversely) with brood frequency.     

Prefeeding larval development time is not correlated with egg size in regular echinoids (Strongylocentrotus species)

Summary

We compared prefeeding development times, from fertilized egg to prism larva, for Strongylocentrotus embryos from four clutches of eggs (each from a different species) differing in size. Development times did not vary consistently with egg diameter, and trends among eggs of different sizes varied with stage of development. In some cases, development times for eggs of intermediate diameter (S. franciscanus) were longer than those for larger or smaller eggs. Although mean egg diameters in clutches ranged from 84 μm (S. purpuratus) to 162 μm (S. pallidus), differences in development time to the last embryonic stage (prism) were very small. We conclude that the inverse relationship between parental investment in offspring and premetamorphic development time in echinoids depends only on the functional consequences of reduced size of feeding larval stages: effects of egg size on prefeeding development time are not evident.     

The dynamics of oocyte growth during vitellogenesis in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This report describes the dynamics of oocyte growth during vitellogenesis in a population of virgin female rainbow trout. Indices of ovarian development increased dramatically during the period of study: the gonadosomatic index (GSI) increased over 50-fold, reaching a peak of 20 just before ovulation; the mean oocyte diameter increased from less than 1 mm to 5.4 mm; and plasma levels of vitellogenin increased from less than 1.5 mg/ml to 25 mg/ml. There were no changes in the numbers of developing oocytes (measuring 0.5 mm or greater in diameter) from the time when the majority of oocytes undergoing secondary development had entered vitellogenesis in August to ovulation in February (averaging 4000 oocytes per fish). The increase in ovary weight during vitellogenesis was, therefore, due to an increase in the size of oocytes rather than to recruitment of more maturing oocytes. The numbers of vitellogenic oocytes in the ovary during the entire study also suggested that atresia of vitellogenic oocytes does not play a prominent role in determining fecundity. During early vitellogenesis, the volume of maturing oocytes within an ovary varied by as much as 250-fold. From September onwards, when all oocytes to be ovulated that season had entered vitellogenesis, a gradual uniformity in size began to develop, such that at ovulation, in February, all the eggs were very similar in size (there was less than a 2-fold variation in volume). The pattern of growth of oocytes in an ovary during vitellogenesis suggests that growth between oocytes is closely coordinated.     

Bovine oocyte diameter in relation to developmental competence

This study was conducted to determine the diameter of bovine oocytes that were able to attain their full developmental competence to blastocysts. Oocytes were recovered by aspiration of surface-visible follicles (1 to 7 mm in diameter) from slaughterhouse ovaries. Only healthy-looking cumulus-oocyte complexes were used for in vitro maturation, and they were divided into six groups based on diameter: < 110 microm, 110 to < 115 microm, 115 to < 120 microm, 120 to < 125 microm, 125 to < 130 microm and >/= 130 microm. Oocytes were processed through standard procedures for in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture. Following in vitro maturation or fertilization, some oocytes were stained to assess nuclear maturation and penetration rates. The numbers of embryos that cleaved at 42 h post insemination and developed to blastocysts and hatched blastocysts after 8 days of culture were recorded. The mean oocyte diameters were 114.0 +/- 4.8 microm. The oocytes displayed size-related ability to undergo meiotic maturation. The rates of nuclear maturation of oocytes in the greater than 115-microm size range were significantly higher than those of oocytes with diameters < 115 microm. In the < 120 microm diameter groups, the polyspermic fertilization rates of oocytes < 115 microm were significantly higher than those of oocytes 115 to < 120 microm in diameter. The rates of cleavage and development to blastocysts and hatched blastocysts rose as oocyte diameter increased. Among oocytes with a diameter >110 microm, oocytes < 120 microm were found to have significantly lower developmental competence than oocytes 120 to < 130 microm in diameter. These results suggest that bovine oocytes have acquired full meiotic competence at a diameter of 115 microm but not yet attained full developmental competence to blastocysts, and that oocytes have acquired full developmental competence at a diameter of 120 microm.