Background: The study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the development potential and the diameter of ovine oocytes. Materials and Methods: Ovaries collected from a local abattoir were transported to the laboratory within 1-3 h of slaughter. The oocytes from follicles (2-6 mm in diameter) were recovered by aspiration and stored in a preincubated (at 38.6 C, 5% CO2 and maxi...

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...

We sought to investigate whether miR-378 plays a role in cumulus cells and whether the manipulation of miRNA levels in cumulus cells influences oocyte maturation in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from ovarian follicles had significantly lower levels of precursor and mature miR-378 in cumulus cells surrounding metaphase II (MII) oocytes than cumulus cells surrounding germinal vesicle (GV...

BACKGROUND Dialogue between the oocyte and cumulus cells is essential for oocyte maturation. A prospective laboratory research project was designed to evaluate transcription of specific genes in cumulus cells harvested before intracytoplasmic sperm injection from pre-ovulatory follicles, according to individual oocyte nuclear maturity and developmental competence. Genes were chosen because thei...

In the process of oocyte maturation, gonadotrophins are believed as main stimulators for oocyte meiosis resumption. However, which gonadotrophin (i.e. FSH or LH) is the key hormone in this process is still unknown. This study indicated a close relationship between LH and FSH on activating meiotic maturation of oocyte in vitro. FSH efficiently induced oocyte meiosis at concentration of 50 IU/L, ...