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 …

Oogenesis is a complex process regulated by a vast number of intra-and extra-ovarian
factors. Oogonia, which originate from primordial germ cells, proliferate by mitosis and form …

Oocyte quality is a key limiting factor in female fertility, yet we have a poor understanding of
what constitutes oocyte quality or the mechanisms governing it. The ovarian follicular …

The oocyte plays an important role in regulating and promoting follicle growth, and thereby
its own development, by the production of oocyte growth factors that predominantly act on …

It is widely held that mammalian cumulus cell (CC) expansion requires oocyte-paracrine
signalling, however in three of the four species studied to date, CC expansion occurs in the …

Successful ovulation requires that developmentally competent oocytes are released with
appropriate timing from the ovarian follicle. Somatic cells of the follicle sense the ovulatory …

Various heterogeneous polymerization techniques such as suspension, emulsion,
dispersion, precipitation and seeded are employed for the synthesis of a wide variety of …

Cumulus cell–oocyte communication is an essential feature of mammalian reproduction.
Established mechanisms involve the bidirectional transfer of ions and small molecules …

Female fertility is determined to a large extent by the quality (developmental competence) of
the oocyte as reflected in its ability to undergo meiosis, be fertilized, and give rise to a …

Oocyte-derived bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9
(GDF9) are key regulators of follicular development. Here we show that these factors control …