Regulatory Mechanism of Spindle Movements during Oocyte Meiotic Division

Female germ cell meiotic divisions are typically asymmetric, giving rise to two daughter cells with different sizes. Spindle movements including spindle migration from the oocyte center to the cortex and spindle rotation from parallel to perpendicular (typically in the mouse) at the cortex are crucial for these asymmetric divisions and therefore are crucial for gamete production. Different regulatory mechanisms for spindle movements have been determined in different species and a wide variety of different molecular components and processes that are involved in spindle movements have also been identified in different species. Here, we review the current state of knowledge as well as our understanding of mechanisms for spindle movements in different systems with focus on three main aspects: microtubules (MT), microfilaments (MF) and molecules associated with cytoskeletal organization as well as molecules that are not directly related to the cytoskeleton. How they might interact or function independently during female meiotic divisions in different species is discussed in detail. (