DEMONSTRATION OF VERY LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN IN THE BASAL LAMINA OF THE GRANULOSA LAYER IN THE HENS OVARIAN FOLLICLE

The isolated basal lamina from the granulosa layer in domestic fowl ovarian follicles contains an abundance of spherical particles with a modal cross-sectional diameter of 25-30 nm. The lipid in this basal lamina is predominantly triacylglycerol and its total fatty acid composition resembles that of plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Immunodiffusion studies and immunoelectrophoresis indicated that this basal lamina contains diffusible antigen identifiable with plasma VLDL. Perfusion with an alkaline buffer displaced the particles from the basal lamina and subsequent perfusion with plasma VLDL in an acidic buffer, resulted in the reappearance of particles of similar size and form. When the perfused basal lamina was subsequently perfused with VLDL-free serum, few particulate structures were observed. Measurements of total and VLDL triacylglycerol, together with electron microscope studies of the untreated and of the perfused basal lamina, provided further evidence for the identification of the majority of particles with plasma VLDL. Other particulate lipoprotein is probably plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL). This basal lamina is permeable to the circulating VLDL of the laying fowl.