BACKGROUND The complexity of fertilization failure during assisted reproductive
technologies (ART) is often under-appreciated, as this failure can occur at any number of …

It is well known that female reproduction ability decreases during the forth decade of life due
to age-related changes in oocyte quality and quantity; although the number of women trying …

The mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular matrix surrounding oocytes and early
embryos, which is critical for normal fertilization and preimplantation development. It is made …

Oocyte maturation is a key issue of current animal biotechnology. This study was designed
to examine the morphodynamics of the cumulus-oocyte association during oocyte …

We have investigated the changes in the mechanical properties of the zona pellucida (ZP), a
multilayer glycoprotein coat that surrounds mammalian eggs, that occur after the maturation …

OVGP1 is the major non-serum glycoprotein in the oviduct fluid at the time of fertilization and
early embryo development. Its activity differs among species. Here, we show that the C …

The mechanism of fertilization remains largely enigmatic in mammals. Most studies
exploring the molecular mechanism underlying fertilization have been restricted to a single …

Surface characteristics of the bovine oocyte and its investments before, during, and after
maturation, and fertilization in vitro were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) …

Contents Studies performed on ejaculates from several species have identified discrete
subpopulations of motile sperm. In dogs, motile sperm subpopulations have also been …

IVF of porcine oocytes has been carried out in many laboratories. However, polyspermic
fertilization is still a major issue to be solved. It is well known that besides the nucleus …