BACKGROUND Oocyte maturation in lower vertebrates is triggered by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), which acts on unidentified receptors on the oocyte surface and induces the activation of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) in the oocyte cytoplasm. We previously described the induction of oocyte maturation in fish by an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), diethylstilbestrol (DES), a nonsteroid...

  Background & Aim: Considering that antioxidants are known as effective free radicals scavenger, it may be able to improve the in vitro oocyte maturation and the fetal quality. This study was designed to determine the effect of Gundelia tournefortii leaves (GTE) hydro-alcoholic extract as a source of antioxidant on in vitro oocyte maturation. Experimental: Germinal vasicle (GV) were...

Background: Since the freezing method was offered, much effort has been done to improve the freezing conditions in different studies and the impact of different freezing methods and mediums on oocyte, embryo and ovarian tissues has been examined. Based on studies, minerals play an important role in oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. Vanadium is one of the minerals, which is ve...

Fatty acid oxidation is an important energy source for the oocyte; however, little is known about how this metabolic pathway is regulated in cumulus-oocyte complexes. Analysis of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation showed that many are regulated by the luteinizing hormone surge during in vivo maturation, including acyl-CoA synthetases, carnitine transporters, acyl-CoA dehydrogenases and acet...

Oocyte maturation is a complex process involving nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. The nuclear maturation is a chromosomal segregation and the cytoplasmic maturation involves the reorganization of the cytoplasmic organelles, mRNA transcription and storage of proteins to be used during fertilization and early embryo development. The mechanism of oocyte maturation in vivo and in vitro still are...

Background: Successful in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is an important step for production of livestock through assisted reproductive techniques including somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Obtaining an optimal duration for maturation of oocyte is essential, since over exposure to maturation medium results in oocyte aging, while under exposure leads to production of immature incompetent...