EFFECT OF HATCHING GLANDS PRODUCT OVER THE BUFO-ARENARUM OOCYTES VITELLINE ENVELOPES

The present investigation concerns the effect of the hatching glands p roduct (HGP) on the vitelline envelope of Bufo arenarum's oocytes. Two kinds of HGP preparations were tested; one obtained from the glands t hemselves, the other coming from the fertilization coat found around e mbryos at times close to hatching. Either type of HGP caused similar e ffects on the uterine oocytes vitelline envelope. The HGP activity was tested at different concentrations on oocytes in different physiologi cal. stages. The alterations produced by the product on the vitelline envelope become more conspicuous as the HGP concentration is increased . Dejellied uterine oocytes treated with HGP, thoroughly washed and af terwards inseminated, showed a decrease in their fertility. When the H GP concentration was 25% or 12.5%, the fertility after such treatment was nearly similar to control batches, therefore showing a high recupe ration rate. Spermatolysines activity is increased if their effect is tested in a HGP reach medium. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the vitelline envelope alterations on oocytes treated with HGP, is a func tion of their physiological stage, and so, of the vitelline envelope f ine morphological organization. Its quantitative morphometric analysis is in agreement with the morphological qualitative observations.