Abstract
Several discoveries have been described recently (5-10 years) about the biology of ovarian follicles (oocyte, cumulus cells and granulosa cells), including new aspects of cellular communication, the control of oocyte maturation and the acquisition of oocyte competence for fertilization and further embryo development. These advances are nourishing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with new possibilities, in which novel culture systems are being developed and tested to improve embryo yield and quality. This mini-review aims to describe how the recent knowledge on the physiological aspects of mammalian oocyte is reflecting as original or revisited approaches into the context of embryo production. These new insights include recent findings on the mechanisms that control oocyte maturation, especially modulating intraoocyte levels of cyclic nucleotides during in vitro maturation using endogenous or exogenous agents. In this mini-review we also discuss the positive and negative effects of these manipulations on the outcoming embryo
Highlights
Mammalian oocytes pass through a long and complex process to acquire the competence necessary for fertilization and embryogenesis
This large amount of published data has allowed researchers to pursue new strategies in assisted reproduction techniques (ART). This mini-review focuses on the recent progress in understanding the events controlling the acquisition of competence in oocytes and the new mechanisms involved in the maintenance of oocyte meiotic arrest; and it may yield future approaches regarding the development of novel systems of in vitro culture, and hopefully bring the status of in vitro production of embryos (IVP) to a whole new level
For the purpose of this mini-review the literature search was performed in the PubMed database, to find all relevant papers focusing in “mammalian oocyte maturation”, “in vitro oocyte maturation techniques” and crossing data with “cyclic nucleotides” (“cyclic adenosine monophosphate”, “cyclic guanosine monophosphate”), “meiosis arrest/resumption” and “embryo yield”, from which we have selected 112 papers, among original and review papers, to discuss the most interesting findings and included some of our own
Summary
Mammalian oocytes pass through a long and complex process to acquire the competence necessary for fertilization and embryogenesis. This mini-review focuses on the recent progress in understanding the events controlling the acquisition of competence in oocytes and the new mechanisms involved in the maintenance of oocyte meiotic arrest; and it may yield future approaches regarding the development of novel systems of in vitro culture, and hopefully bring the status of in vitro production of embryos (IVP) to a whole new level.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
