BACKGROUND Within the antral follicle, the oocyte is reliant on metabolic support from its
surrounding somatic cells. Metabolism plays a critical role in oocyte developmental …

The environment that the cumulus oocyte complex (COC) is exposed to during either in vivo
or in vitro maturation (IVM) can have profound effects on the success of fertilisation and …

BACKGROUND In a growth phase occurring during most of folliculogenesis, the oocyte
produces and accumulates molecules and organelles that are fundamental for the …

There has been an improvement in the blastocyst rates achieved following in-vitro embryo
production that can largely be attributed to improved embryo culture conditions based on an …

Bidirectional somatic cell–oocyte signaling is essential to create a changing intrafollicular
microenvironment that controls primordial follicle growth into a cohort of growing follicles …

Obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders are major health issues worldwide. As
the epidemic of metabolic disorders continues, the associated medical co-morbidities …

The ability of an oocyte to undergo successful cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation,
fertilization and embryo development is referred to as the oocyte's quality or developmental …

During the lifespan of the female, biochemical changes occur in the ovarian environment.
These changes are brought about by numerous endogenous and exogenous factors …

The importance of oocyte quality cannot be overstated, because it impacts all subsequent
events during development of the embryo, the fetus and even the resulting offspring. Oocyte …

Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) is an important assisted reproductive technology and
research tool. The adoption of IVM into routine clinical practice has been hindered by its …