Abstract
The mammalian oocyte has tremendous potential energy because it is capable of giving rise to an entirely new generation upon fertilization. In addition to providing the embryo with half its DNA content, the oocyte also endows the early embryo with the majority of its cellular volume because the sperm volume is orders of magnitude smaller. The cellular volume of the oocyte contains critical maternal products that are essential for supporting the developmental events of meiosis, fertilization, and early embryo development. In this article, we review the cellular architecture of the mammalian oocyte, key biological processes that dictate the developmental potential of the oocyte, and physiological and extrinsic factors that can impact oocyte quality.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Reproduction |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Pages | 21-28 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128151457 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
Keywords
- Aging
- Bisphenol a
- Cortical granules
- Cytoplasmic lattice
- Egg
- Fertilization
- Germinal vesicle
- Meiosis
- Obesity
- Oncofertility
- Oocyte
- Organelles
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Transzonal projection
- Zona pellucida
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)