DNA synthesis in the oocyte of the mature mouse: a radioautographic study.

Mice were injected three times over an 8-hour period with a total of 48 muci 3H-T/gm of body weight and were sacrificed 1, 3, 5, 9 and 17 days afterwards. Radioautographs of the ovaries showed significantly higher grain counts in oocytes of follicles that are in the antrum formation stage. The radioautographic visualization of DNase digestible 3H-thymidine incorporation into the juxtanucleolar region in oocytes of mature mice occurs in association with ooctye growth in follicles that are in the antrum formation stage. The scheduled disappearance of this juxtanucleolar oocyte DNA and its label during later oocyte growth suggests a degradation or dispersion of this labeled DNA prior to ovulation.