Thank you coauthors @shylonatasha.bsky.social @zgrif26.bsky.social @thomsanger.bsky.social @hollfelderlab.bsky.social @swilliamslabox.bsky.social @aussiebiologist.bsky.social @rrbehringer.bsky.social

Through confocal imaging we describe basement membrane deposition in the ovary during folliculogenesis. We can report a double basement membrane deposited on either side of the granulosa cell layer surrounding the follicles.

Exploring the sub-cellular architecture of the germinal bed & stage II follicles, we could analyse the granulosa (g) and theca (th) cell layers surrounding stage II follicles. Primordial follicles (pf) start exhibiting enlarged nuclei and cytoplasm!

Oogenesis takes place in 10 stages. It starts in the oogonial nest - a mitotic stem cell niche within the germinal bed - which then undergo meiosis to form primordial follicles
We identified oogonia and primordial follicles using section H&E staining paired with confocal DAPI/WGA staining!

@a-weberling.bsky.social & I characterize oogenesis from initiation in the germinal bed to ovulatory follicles for the first time in the brown anole, a powerful reptile model for evo-devo & functional genetics!
Full preprint here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Checkout this awesome preprint from @a-weberling.bsky.social et al. with the first description of early embryogenesis in the brown anole! This dataset was no small feat to collect as much of early development takes place before the egg is laid!! Thrilled to have been a part of this project! 🦎

Getting some love from the microscope today! Testing TO-PRO-3, a far red-fluorescent nuclear counterstain.