Histochemical Studies of Jelly Coat of Marthasterias glacialis (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) Oocytes.

Histochemical studies revealed the presence of two major polysaccharides in the oocyte jelly coat (JC) of Marthasterias glacialis: a fibrillar component that contains carboxylic and sulfated groups and a loose component composed of neutral or weakly acidic polysaccharides. When isolated JC was submitted to cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) and then stained with alcian blue, three bands appeared, of which one remained at the origin and two migrated toward the anode. Glycosaminoglycan-like molecules isolated from JC were separated by CAE into three main moving bands, two that present an Rf similar to that of the intermediary moving band of total JC and one that has an Rf similar to that of the faster moving band of total JC. These bands also have critical electrolyte points similar to those of total JC. Chondroitinase ABC mainly attacked the faster moving band, whereas protease and hyaluronidase seemed to digest all bands. These results and the Rfs of isolated and standard glycosaminoglycans after mono- and bidimensional CAE suggest that the glycosaminoglycan-like molecules bear some resemblance to chondroitan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.