Cyclin A1 belongs to the type-A cyclins and participates in cell cycle regulation. Since its discovery, cyclin A1 has been shown mostly in testis. It plays important roles in spermatogenesis. However, there were also reports on ovary expression of cyclin A1. Therefore, we intended to revisit the expression of cyclin A1 in mouse ovary. Our study showed that cyclin A1 was expressed at the mRNA le...

Txndc9 (thioredoxin domain containing protein 9) has been shown to be involved in mammalian mitosis; however, its function in mammalian oocyte meiosis remains unclear. In this study, we initially found that Txndc9 is expressed during meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes and higher expression of Txndc9 mRNA and protein occurred in germinal vesicle (GV) stage. By using confocal scanning, we observ...

It has been generally accepted for more than half a century that, in most mammalian species, oocytes cannot renew themselves in postnatal or adult life, and that the number of oocytes is already fixed in fetal or neonatal ovaries. This assumption, however, has been challenged over the past decade. In this study, we have taken an endogenous genetic approach to this question and generated a multi...

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), a cGMP specific, cGMP binding phosphodiesterase, specifically hydrolyzes cGMP to 5'-GMP. Here, we examine the distribution of PDE5 in mouse ovary and its effects on spontaneous maturation of mouse oocytes. PDE5 is present in oocytes and cumulus cells of big, antral follicles. Inhibition of activity of PDE5 significantly and reversibly inhibits spontaneous matura...

In mammalian ovaries, a fixed population of primordial follicles forms during the perinatal stage and the oocytes contained within are arrested at the dictyate stage of meiotic prophase I. In the current study, we provide evidence that the level of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in oocytes regulates oocyte meiotic prophase I and primordial folliculogenesis in the perinatal mouse ovary. Our results show that...

In mammalian ovaries, a fixed population of primordial follicles forms during the perinatal stage and the oocytes contained within are arrested at the dictyate stage of meiotic prophase I. In the current study, we provide evidence that the level of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in oocytes regulates oocyte meiotic prophase I and primordial folliculogenesis in the perinatal mouse ovary. Our results show that...

BACKGROUND Various approaches have been utilized in attempting to cryopreserve oocytes, beginning with slow cooling and more recently the advent of technique of vitrification. Now it seems that oocyte cryopreservation is no longer an experimental technique and it is being increasingly utilized in clinics around the world. As successful outcome in oocyte cryopreservation can be assessed by survi...

Background: Anemia and consequently low oxygen can cause changes in the function and structure of the testis and spermatogenesis, Iron released from red blood cells, followed by the increased oxidative stress, which may cause tissue iron. This study was designed to minimize the deleterious effects of hypoxia on the genitals. Materials and Methods: Eighteen mature male mice were randomly divided...