We conducted a cytological search for amyloid structures in female reproductive cells of Gallus gallus domesticus and Drosophila melanogaster. We have shown that the amyloid-specific dye, Thioflavin S, but not Congo red, stains some cytoplasmic and even nuclear structures in chicken ovaries. In fruit fly eggs both Thioflavin S and Congo red specifically stain eggshell structures such as micropyle, dorsal appendages and pillars. Moreover, these structures, when stained with Congo red, demonstrate birefringence in polarized light, which is a characteristic feature of all classical amyloids. Our data show that female reproductive cells during evolution began to use amyloid fibrils to form various functional structures necessary for development under certain environmental conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)278-282
Number of pages5
JournalPrion
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2020

    Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

    Research areas

  • Functional amyloids, chicken, eggshell, fruit fly, oocyte

ID: 71955032