Oocyte Maturation Mechanisms in Vertebrate Models
Summary
Oocyte maturation in vertebrates encompasses the transition from a growth-arrested germ cell to a fertilisation-competent egg through a tightly regulated sequence of meiotic events. Fully grown oocytes typically arrest at prophase I, maintaining a quiescent state until they receive external cues—often steroid hormones or neuropeptides—that trigger resumption of meiosis. Central to this transition is the activation of maturation-promoting factor (MPF), a complex of Cdk1 and Cyclin B, whose activation drives germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and entry into M-phase. Parallel kinase cascades, including the Mos-MAPK pathway, coordinate spindle formation and polar body extrusion, while cytostatic factors enforce a metaphase II arrest until fertilisation. Interactions with surrounding follicular cells provide essential paracrine support, modulating intracellular cAMP, protein kinase A activity and integrin-mediated adhesion signals. Calcium transients, orchestrated by extracellular ligands and intracellular stores, fine-tune the progression through meiotic checkpoints. Comparative studies in amphibian (Xenopus), piscine and mammalian models reveal both conserved core machinery and species-specific variations in hormone receptors, upstream signalling mediators and post-translational modifications. This interplay ensures reliable gamete production, adapts to environmental and endocrine contexts and underpins assisted reproduction technologies.
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Oocyte Maturation Mechanisms in Vertebrate Models publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in oocyte maturation mechanisms in vertebrate models across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD): Dissolution of the oocyte nucleus envelope marking meiotic resumption.
Maturation-promoting factor (MPF): A kinase complex of Cyclin B and Cdk1 that triggers entry into M-phase of meiosis.
O-GlcNAcylation: Addition of N-acetylglucosamine residues to serine or threonine residues of proteins, modulating their function.
Serotonin transporter (SERT): A membrane protein responsible for uptake of serotonin into cells, implicated here as a marker of oocyte maturity.
Follicular cells: Somatic cells surrounding the oocyte that provide metabolic support and signalling cues essential for meiotic progression.
References
- Serotonin Transporter Activity in Mouse Oocytes Is a Positive Indicator of Follicular Growth and Oocyte Maturity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Follicular cells protect Xenopus oocyte from abnormal maturation via integrin signaling downregulation and O-GlcNAcylation control. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2023).
- Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and calcium in oocyte maturation and early development. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2022).
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