Oocyte Physiology and Development in Domestic Animals -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- 1 Oocyte Development before and during Folliculogenesis -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Germ Cell Cyst and Ovigerous Cord Formation -- 1.3 Meiotic Entry and Progression -- 1.4 Follicle Formation -- 1.5 Follicle Development -- 1.6 Steroid Hormone Signaling in Oocyte Development -- 1.7 Summary -- References -- 2 The In Vitro Culture of Ovarian Follicles: A Brief History and Current Considerations -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 Ovarian Follicles -- 2.1.2 Follicle Culture and Fertility Preservation -- 2.2 A Brief Historical Review of In Vitro Follicle Culture -- 2.3 State-of-the-Art In Vitro Follicle Culture -- 2.3.1 Alternative and Complementary Strategies -- 2.4 The Future of Ovarian Follicle Culture -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 3 Regulation of Oocyte Meiotic Resumption by Somatic Cells -- 3.1 Meiotic Resumption Is Negatively Regulated in a cAMP-Dependent Manner -- 3.2 The Regulation of cAMP Level in Mouse Oocytes -- 3.3 The Expression and Roles of PDEs in both Cumulus Cells and Oocytes in Domestic Animals concentration -- 3.4 Closure of Gap Junctional Communication -- 3.5 How to Activate the ERK1/2 Pathway in Cumulus Cells of COC -- 3.6 ERK1/2 in Cumulus Cells Is Required for Meiotic Resumption -- 3.7 Dynamic Changes of Kinase Activities within Oocytes -- 3.8 Conclusion -- References -- 4 Oocyte-Secreted Factors in Domestic Animals -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Historical Background -- 4.3 Localization and Specificity -- 4.3.1 TGFβ Superfamily -- 4.3.2 Fibroblast Growth Factors -- 4.4 Structure and Genetic Diversity of Gdf9 and Bmp15 -- 4.5 Signalling Mechanisms of Gdf9 and Bmp15 -- 4.6 Roles of Oocyte-Secreted Factors -- 4.6.1 Follicle Growth, Cell Proliferation, and Apoptosis -- 4.6.2 Regulation of Steroidogenesis and Luteinization.

4.6.3 Cumulus Cell Expansion -- 4.6.4 Cumulus Cell Metabolism -- 4.7 Manipulation and Use in Reproductive Technologies -- 4.7.1 Altering Ovulation Rate-Antibodies -- 4.7.2 In Vitro Embryo Production -- 4.8 Concluding Remarks -- References -- 5 MicroRNAs in Oocyte Physiology and Development -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Biogenesis of miRNA -- 5.3 Recognition and Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Target mRNA by miRNA -- 5.4 miRNA in Germ Cell Differentiation and Oogenesis -- 5.5 Expression and Regulation of miRNA in Oocyte Development -- 5.6 miRNAs in Oocyte Maturation and Competence -- 5.7 miRNAs as Temporal Regulatory Cascades of Maternal mRNA Translation -- 5.8 miRNAs in Oocyte Development in Relation to Endocrine Control -- 5.9 miRNA Regulation of Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Oocyte -- 5.10 Strategic Approaches and Challenges to Study the Role of miRNAs in Oocytes -- 5.11 Concluding Remarks -- References -- 6 Bovine Oocyte Gene Expression: Identification of Functional Regulators of Early Embryogenesis -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Potential Contribution of Oocyte-Specific Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regulators to Bovine Oocyte Competence: Available Evidence and Gaps in Knowledge -- 6.2.1 Factor in the Germline Alpha (Figla) -- 6.2.2 Newborn Ovary Homeobox Encoding Gene (Nobox) -- 6.2.3 Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis Specific Basic Helix-loop-helix 1/2 and LIM Homeodomain Transcription Factor 8 (Sohlh1, Sohlh2 and Lhx8) -- 6.2.4 Oocyte-specific Homeobox Gene Family (Obox) -- 6.2.5 Deleted in Azoospermia-Like Gene (Dazl) -- 6.2.6 Y Box Protein 2 (Msy2) -- 6.2.7 Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding Protein 1 (Cpeb1) -- 6.3 Maternal Oocyte-Derived Factors Required Specifically for Early Embryogenesis -- 6.3.1 Maternal Antigen that Embryos Require (Mater) -- 6.3.2 Factor Located in Oocytes Permitting Embryonic Development (Floped).

6.3.3 Zygote Arrest 1 (Zar1) -- 6.3.4 Nucleoplasmin2 (Npm2) -- 6.3.5 Developmental Pluripotency Associated 3 (Dppa3) -- 6.3.6 Octamer Binding Transcription Factor 4 (Oct4) -- 6.4 Functional Genomics Studies of Bovine Oocyte Competence and Early Embryogenesis: Identification of Novel Mediators -- 6.4.1 JY-1 -- 6.4.2 Importin Alpha 8 (Kpna7) -- 6.4.3 Follistatin -- 6.4.4 Cumulus Cell Cathepsins and Oocyte Competence -- 6.5 Conclusions -- NOTE -- References -- 7 Epigenetic Modifications during Mammalian Oocyte Growth and Meiotic Progression -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Establishment of Epigenetic Modifications during Postnatal Oocyte Growth -- 7.3 Establishment and Maintenance of DNA Methylation during Oocyte Growth -- 7.4 Large-Scale Chromatin Remodeling during Meiotic Division -- 7.4.1 Changes in Chromatin Structure and Function in Fully Grown Oocytes -- 7.4.2 Histone Modifications during the Resumption of Meiosis -- 7.4.3 Global Histone Deacetylation during Meiotic Resumption is Required for Proper Chromosome Condensation and Segregation -- 7.4.4 Role of Chromatin Remodeling Factors in Chromosome Segregation -- 7.5 Environmental Effects Adversely Influencing the Female Gamete -- 7.6 Chromosome-microtubule Interactions in the Mammalian Oocyte -- 7.6.1 Regulation of Chromosome-Microtubule Interactions at the Kinetochore -- 7.6.2 Formation of Meiotic Spindle Microtubules -- 7.7 Conclusion -- References -- 8 Oocyte Calcium Homeostasis -- 8.1 Significance of Ca2+ -- 8.2 Signaling by Ca2+ -- 8.2.1 The Signaling Apparatus -- 8.2.2 Elevation of Cytosolic Ca2+ Levels -- 8.2.3 Transmitting the Signal -- 8.2.4 Removal of Ca2+ from the Cytosol -- 8.2.5 Store-operated Ca2+ Entry -- 8.2.6 Spatial and Temporal Organization of the Ca2+ Signal -- 8.3 Ca2+ Signaling in Oocytes -- 8.3.1 Development of the Signaling Mechanism -- 8.3.2 Role of Ca2+ in Oocyte Maturation.

8.3.3 Role of Ca2+ in Oocyte Activation -- 8.4 Summary -- References -- 9 Oocyte Metabolism and Its Relationship to Developmental Competence -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Energy Substrates, In Vivo and In Vitro -- 9.3 Limitations of Oocyte Metabolism Assessment -- 9.4 Mitochondrial Function in the Oocyte -- 9.5 Cattle Oocyte Metabolism -- 9.6 Pig Oocyte Metabolism -- 9.7 Mouse Oocyte Metabolism -- 9.8 Oocyte Metabolism in Other Species -- 9.9 Oocyte Metabolism of Fatty Acids -- 9.10 Oocyte Metabolism Controls Meiosis: A View across Species -- 9.11 Oocyte Metabolism and Redox Balance -- 9.12 The Relationship between Oocyte Metabolism and Oocyte Quality -- 9.13 Maternal Diet and Disease Can Alter Oocyte Metabolism -- 9.14 Oocytes and the Warburg Effect -- 9.15 Conclusions -- References -- 10 Screening for Oocyte Competence -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Concept of Oocyte Competence -- 10.2.1 Oocyte Molecules Storage -- 10.2.2 Meiotic Competence -- 10.2.3 Cytoplasmic Competence -- 10.2.4 Fertilization Competence -- 10.2.5 Embryo Developmental Competence -- 10.2.6 Development-to-term Competence -- 10.3 Influence of Follicular Parameters on Oocyte Competence -- 10.3.1 The Effect of Follicle Size -- 10.3.2 The Effect of Health Status -- 10.3.3 The Effect of Superstimulation -- 10.3.4 The Effect of Follicular Level of Differentiation -- 10.4 Morphological Changes of the COC Associated with Competence -- 10.5 Biochemical Changes within the COC Associated with Competence -- 10.5.1 Glucose Metabolism -- 10.5.2 Dielectrophoretic Migration -- 10.5.3 Zona Refringence -- 10.6 The Use of Coasting to Induce Competence in Large Mammals -- 10.7 The Use of Genomic/Gene Expression in Follicular Cells to Assess Oocyte Competence -- 10.8 The Use of Genomic/Gene Expression in Cumulus Cells to Assess Oocyte Competence -- 10.9 Signaling Pathways Involved in Competence Stimulation.

10.10 Conclusion -- References -- 11 In Vitro Maturation Environment Affects Developmental Outcome -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Oocyte Maturation in Vivo -- 11.3 In Vitro Embryo Production -- 11.4 Improving Oocyte Competence before Removal from the Follicle -- 11.5 Improving Oocyte Competence after Removal from the Follicle -- 11.6 Effect of Oocyte Environment on Embryo Gene Expression -- 11.7 Use of IVM in Practice in Cattle -- 11.8 Long-Term Consequences of in Vitro Maturation -- 11.9 Concluding Comments -- References -- Abbreviations -- Index -- Supplemental Images.