SELECTIVE PROTEIN INCORPORATION BY VITELLOGENIC SALMO-GAIRDNERI OOCYTES INVITRO

An in vitro method is represented for the investigation of protein incorporation into the ovarian follicles of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). A protein induced into serum of S. gairdneri, after estrogen treatment, was incorporated into the vitellogenic follicles to a greater extent than other serum proteins of S. gairdneri or bovine serum albumin (BSA) which served as controls. A large proportion of the incorporated BSA and other non-vitellogenic proteins is probably associated with follicular tissues other than the oocyte. These results offer further evidence that the estradiol-induced serum protein found in teleosts is vitellogenin, the precursor of oocyte yolk proteins.