Ovary of Fish Under the Microscope
Ovary of Fish (Section), Cyprinus carpio
This is a section of a fish ovary stained with H&E. It shows egg cells (oocytes) at many sizes, from small young ones to large ones packed with yolk.
This section through a fish ovary, from a carp (Cyprinus carpio), is stained with H&E. It is packed with oocytes, or egg cells, at many stages of growth. The small young oocytes have a large nucleus and purple-pink cytoplasm. The large mature oocytes are filled with yolk, food stored for the future embryo, and are wrapped in a thin layer of follicle cells. Seeing so many sizes side by side shows how eggs grow in steps inside the ovary.
What to look for
- Young oocytes: Small cells with a large nucleus and cytoplasm that stains purple.
- Mature oocytes: Large round cells filled with pink-staining yolk.
- Nucleus: A large round nucleus near the center of growing oocytes.
- Follicle layer: A thin layer of cells wrapped around each oocyte.
- Ovarian tissue: Thin pink connective tissue holding the oocytes in place.
Questions and answers
What does a fish ovary look like under a microscope?
A fish ovary is packed with round egg cells of many sizes. Small, young oocytes stain purple with H&E, while larger, older ones fill with yolk and stain pink.
Why are fish eggs so different in size on one slide?
Fish ovaries hold eggs at many stages of development at the same time. As each egg grows, it builds up yolk, which feeds the embryo after fertilization.
- Category
- Vertebrates
- Scan magnification
- 20x
- Stain
- H&E
Viewing this slide in class
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