Backgroud: Oocyte cryopreservation is critical in assisted reproduction techniques. However, the effect of cryopreservation on the oocyte has not been widely explored yet. Currently a thorough understanding of oocyte cryobiology is urgently required due to its far lag behind the forces propelling the clinical application of oocyte cryopreservation. Methods: In this study, we used two different ...

31 32 In the growing follicle, communication between the oocyte and its surrounding follicular 33 cells is essential for normal oocyte and follicular development. Maturation of the fully34 grown oocyte in vivo is associated with the loss of cumulus cell-oocyte gap junctional 35 communication, preventing entry of meiotic-modulating factors such as cAMP into the 36 oocyte. We have previously show...

In the four decades since the Xenopus oocyte was first demonstrated to have the capacity to translate exogenous mRNAs, this system has been exploited for many different experimental purposes. Typically, the oocyte is used either as a "biological test tube" for heterologous expression of proteins without any particular cell biological insight or, alternatively, it is used for applications where ...

OBJECTIVE To assess whether there is an increased risk of infertility in women that have previously undergone ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval for oocyte donation. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S) A total of 194 past oocyte donors. INTERVENTION(S) Telephone questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Incidence of infertility after oocyte d...

Vertebrate female reproduction is limited by the oocyte stockpiles acquired during embryonic development. These are gradually depleted over the organism's lifetime through the process of apoptosis. The timer that triggers this cell death is yet to be identified. We used the Xenopus egg/oocyte system to examine the hypothesis that nutrient stores can regulate oocyte viability. We show that pento...

Genetic experiments suggest that polarization of the oocyte is linked directly to the initial cell fate determination that singles out the oocyte from its 15 sister cells. Specification of oocyte cell fate as well as establishment and maintenance of a polarized microtubule network within the Drosophila oocyte require the activity of the egalitarian (egl) and BicaudalD (BicD) genes. We have isol...

The orthogonal axes of Drosophila are established during oogenesis through a hierarchical series of symmetry-breaking steps, most of which can be traced back to asymmetries inherent in the architecture of the ovary. Oogenesis begins with the formation of a germline cyst of 16 cells connected by ring canals. Two of these 16 cells have four ring canals, whereas the others have fewer. The first sy...

quality and quantity of ovum are major determinants in invitro fertilization. the aim of the present study was to determine effect of the time of oocyte collection and also distance of hcg injection to oviduct flushing on the quantity, quality and fertilizing ability of rabbit oocyte. accordingly, sixty two adult female rabbit selected and randomly allocated to seven groups. the rabbits were su...

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, ...