The main objective of the present study was to identify novel oocyte-specific genes in three different species: bovine, mouse, and Xenopus laevis. To achieve this goal, two powerful technologies were combined: a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based cDNA subtraction, and cDNA microarrays. Three subtractive libraries consisting of 3456 clones were established and enriched for oocyte-specific tra...

BACKGROUND Our aim was to evaluate whether extending the interval between human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) priming and immature oocyte retrieval increases the oocyte maturation rate following in vitro maturation (IVM). METHODS This study was performed retrospectively. IVM was performed on 113 polycystic ovary syndrome patients (n = 120 cycles). Oocyte collection was performed either 35 h (...

LIMKi 3 is a specific selective LIMK inhibitor against LIMK1 and LIMK2, while LIMK1 and LIMK2 are the main regulators of actin cytoskeleton to participate in many cell activities. However, the effect of LIMKi 3 in porcine oocyte meiosis is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of LIMKi 3 and potential regulatory role of LIMK1/2 on porcine oocyte meiotic matura...

Relatively few countries have legislation addressing oocyte donation. Where such legislation does exist it is entirely in the context of broader legislation concerned with the regulation of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or assisted reproduction more generally. Within Western Europe only nine countries so far have passed Acts addressing assisted reproduction. These countries fall into two groups ...

Background: Oocyte in vitro maturation success rate is still low in compareision to oocyte in vivo maturation. Thus prediction and improvement of oocyte competency are two critical issues in assisted reproductive technology. New insights into oocyte-cumulus cell regulatory loop may assist our optimization of in vitro maturation technique. Maturation and developmental competency of cumulus oocyt...

BACKGROUND Oocyte donation is a popular treatment option among women with ovarian dysfunction. Little is known about the amount of information recipients have about their donors and if the amount of information the couple has relates to their plans to disclose. The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of information recipients had about their donors and their disclosure plans. METHO...

MPM-2 antigens, a discrete set of phosphoproteins that contain similar phosphoepitopes (the MPM-2 epitope), are associated with various mitotically important structures. The central mitotic regulator cdc2 kinase has been proposed to induce M-phase by phosphorylating many proteins which might include the MPM-2 antigens. To clarify the relationship of cdc2 kinase and the MPM-2 antigens, we develo...

An extract from whole oocytes of Xenopus laevis was shown to transcribe somatic-type 5S RNA genes approximately 100-fold more efficiently than oocyte-type 5S RNA genes. This preference was at least 10-fold greater than the preference seen upon microinjection of 5S RNA genes into oocyte nuclei or upon in vitro transcription in an oocyte nuclear extract. The approximately 100-fold transcriptional...