this study was designed to examine the effects of retinoic acid adding to cumulus and/or fibroblast cellsmonolayer on the development of mouse early embryos. one-cell mouse embryos were obtained from nmrimice after superovulation by an intraperitoneal injection of 5 iu equine chorionic gonadotrophin (ecg)followed 48 hrs later by 5 iu human chorionic gonadotrophin (hcg). mouse embryonic fibrobla...

In the spontaneous menstrual cycle, the mid-cycle gonadotrophin surge causes maturation of the cumulus-oocyte complex, mucification of cumulus cells and expansion of the cumulus oophorus, resumption of meiosis and maturation of the cytoplasm of the oocyte. Whether this is an effect purely of luteinizing hormone (LH) or whether follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) also plays a role is unknown. The...

Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms are critical for successful completion of fertilization. Here, we demonstrate that CRISP1, a sperm protein involved in mammalian fertilization, is also present in the female gamete and capable of modulating key sperm Ca(2+) channels. Specifically, we show that CRISP1 is expressed by the cumulus cells that surround the egg and that fertilization of cumulus-oocyte comp...

BACKGROUND Oocytes are the female gametes which establish the program of life after fertilization. Interactions between oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells at germinal vesicle (GV) stage are considered essential for proper maturation or 'programming' of oocytes, which is crucial for normal fertilization and embryonic development. However, despite its importance, little is known about the m...

During follicle development, oocytes secrete factors that influence the development of granulosa and cumulus cells (CCs). In response to oocyte and somatic cell signals, CCs produce extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules resulting in cumulus expansion, which is essential for ovulation, fertilisation, and is predictive of oocyte quality. The cumulus ECM is largely made up of hyaluronan (HA), TNF-s...

An experimental design was framed to analyse the effect of cumulus oocyte complex (COC) morphology on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes. Slaughter house derived bovine ovaries from South Indian breeds and crossbred cattle of Kerala were subjected to three retrieval methods to yield different quality grades of oocytes. Based on the number of layers of cumulus cells and ooplasm character, the...

This paper presents a range of applications of the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), a comprehensive mesoscale meteorological modeling system. Applications discussed in this paper include large eddy simulations (LES) and simulations of thunderstorms, cumulus fields, mesoscale convective systems, mid-latitude cirrus clouds, winter storms, mechanicallyand thermally-forced mesoscale sys...

This proposal is linked to the Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) project, described in the RICO Scientific Overview Document. The project's aim is to study shallow, precipitating cumulus over a tropical ocean. A field campaign is planned for the winter 2004-05 in the area of the Lesser Antilles. The proposed work is for the study the onset of precipitation, and its effect on cumulus organiz...

STUDY QUESTION Is the activity of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) altered in granulosa and cumulus cells from young women with reduced ovarian reserve or women of advanced maternal age? SUMMARY ANSWER SIRT3 mRNA and active protein in granulosa and cumulus cells were decreased in women with reduced ovarian reserve and advanced maternal age. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Young women with reduced ovarian reserve or...

Most studies have considered the negative influence of obesity on fertility in both genders. In the present study, we assessed mitochondrial activity expressed as the mitochondrial potential index (MPI) in cumulus cells from obese women and women with a normal body mass index (BMI) during assisted reproductive therapy. The results revealed a significant reduction of MPI with increased body mass...