Oocyte Physiology and Development in Domestic Animals

Rebecca L. Krisher is Research Director at the National Foundation of Fertility Research.

Oocyte Physiology and Development in Domestic Animals reviews the most recent advances in the research of physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying oocyte growth and development, providing readers with the fundamental understanding of these key processes and summarizing this important field of research. The book covers multiple molecular and physiological mechanisms including initiation of oocyte growth during folliculogenesis and in vitro follicle culture to support oocyte competence, that are critical to health and quality. Physiological process ranging from gene expression to metabolism will be covered with an eye toward using these factors to uncover biomarkers that will further advance the field. In addition, the text looks at the effects of in vitro maturation environments on oocyte quality and developmental outcome.

Contributors xi
 
Preface xiii
 
Acknowledgments xv
 
Chapter 1 Oocyte Development before and during Folliculogenesis 1
Melissa Pepling
 
1.1 Introduction 1
 
1.2 Germ Cell Cyst and Ovigerous Cord Formation 1
 
1.3 Meiotic Entry and Progression 4
 
1.4 Follicle Formation 6
 
1.5 Follicle Development 9
 
1.6 Steroid Hormone Signaling in Oocyte Development 13
 
1.7 Summary 14
 
References 14
 
Chapter 2 The In Vitro Culture of Ovarian Follicles: A Brief History and Current Considerations 21
Bahar Uslu and Joshua Johnson
 
2.1 Introduction 21
 
2.2 A Brief Historical Review of In Vitro Follicle Culture 23
 
2.3 State-of-the-Art In Vitro Follicle Culture 24
 
2.4 The Future of Ovarian Follicle Culture 28
 
Acknowledgments 29
 
References 29
 
Chapter 3 Regulation of Oocyte Meiotic Resumption by Somatic Cells 35
Masayuki Shimada
 
3.1 Meiotic Resumption Is Negatively Regulated in a cAMP-Dependent Manner 35
 
3.2 The Regulation of cAMP Level in Mouse Oocytes 37
 
3.3 The Expression and Roles of PDEs in both Cumulus Cells and Oocytes in Domestic Animals 38
 
3.4 Closure of Gap Junctional Communication 39
 
3.5 How to Activate the ERK1/2 Pathway in Cumulus Cells of COC 43
 
3.6 ERK1/2 in Cumulus Cells Is Required for Meiotic Resumption 45
 
3.7 Dynamic Changes of Kinase Activities within Oocytes 47
 
3.8 Conclusion 49
 
References 49
 
Chapter 4 Oocyte-Secreted Factors in Domestic Animals 55
Jeremy G. Thompson, David G. Mottershead, and Robert B. Gilchrist
 
4.1 Introduction 55
 
4.2 Historical Background 56
 
4.3 Localization and Specificity 57
 
4.4 Structure and Genetic Diversity of Gdf9 and Bmp15 58
 
4.5 Signalling Mechanisms of Gdf9 and Bmp15 60
 
4.6 Roles of Oocyte-Secreted Factors 61
 
4.7 Manipulation and Use in Reproductive Technologies 64
 
4.8 Concluding Remarks 65
 
References 66
 
Chapter 5 MicroRNAs in Oocyte Physiology and Development 71
Dawit Tesfaye, Md M. Hossain, and Karl Schellander
 
5.1 Introduction 71
 
5.2 Biogenesis of miRNA 71
 
5.3 Recognition and Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Target mRNA by miRNA 73
 
5.4 miRNA in Germ Cell Differentiation and Oogenesis 74
 
5.5 Expression and Regulation of miRNA in Oocyte Development 75
 
5.6 miRNAs in Oocyte Maturation and Competence 77
 
5.7 miRNAs as Temporal Regulatory Cascades of Maternal mRNA Translation 78
 
5.8 miRNAs in Oocyte Development in Relation to Endocrine Control 79
 
5.9 miRNA Regulation of Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Oocyte 79
 
5.10 Strategic Approaches and Challenges to Study the Role of miRNAs in Oocytes 80
 
5.11 Concluding Remarks 81
 
References 81
 
Chapter 6 Bovine Oocyte Gene Expression: Identification of Functional Regulators of Early Embryogenesis 85
Swamy K. Tripurani, Jianbo Yao, and George W. Smith
 
6.1 Introduction 85
 
6.2 Potential Contribution of Oocyte-Specific Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regulators to Bovine Oocyte Competence: Available Evidence and Gaps in Knowledge 87
 
6.3 Maternal Oocyte-Derived Factors Required Specifically for Early Embryogenesis 94
 
6.4 Functional Genomics Studies of Bovine Oocyte Competence and Early Embryogenesis: Identification of Novel Mediators 99
 
6.5 Conclusions 104
 
References 105
 
Chapter 7 Epigenetic Modifications during Mammalian Oocyte Growth and Meiotic Progression 111
Claudia Baumann, Maria M. Viveiros, and Rabindr