Oocyte maturation triggered by the presence of male in the Blue Gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus.

Oocyte growth in females of Trichogaster trichopterus kept in solitary confinement or in groups of up to 20 specimens is arrested at the end of the vitellogenetic stage. In ∼ 60% of the pairs tested, a large number of oocytes mature during the first 2 days after pairing a female with a male. Mature oocytes contain a large apical lipid inclusion formed by coalescence of lipid droplets that were formed during the cortical alveolar stage.

Sensitivity to maturation-inducing steroids and gonadotropin in the oocytes of blue gourami Trichogaster trichopterus (Anabantidae, Pallas, 1770).

This study examined in vitro the effect of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20-P), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on vitellogenesis and the induction of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in oocytes of the female Trichogaster trichopterus (Pallas, 1770) after various in vivo treatments: (a) in nonreproductive condition; (b) in reproductive condition together with males; (c) injected with hCG; (d) injected with extract of carp gonadotropin (cGtH). Neither 17-P nor 17,20-P affected vitellogenesis or GVBD in oocytes from females in nonreproductive condition. However, the development of maturational competence was observed in oocytes obtained from fish in the other three treatments, 17,20-P having a significantly higher effect than 17-P.

Scanning Electron Microscope Studies of Interactions between Agaricus bisporus (Lang) Sing Hyphae and Bacteria in Casing Soil.

Relationships between the hyphae of Agaricus bisporus (Lang) Sing and bacteria from the mushroom bed casing layer were examined with a scanning electron microscope. Hyphae growing in the casing layer differed morphologically from compost-grown hyphae. Whereas the compost contained thin single hyphae surrounded by calcium oxalate crystals, the casing layer contained mainly wide hyphae or mycelial strands without crystals.