We recently showed that germline transmission of mitochondrial DNA mutations via the oocyte cause aggravation of aging phenotypes in prematurely aging mtDNA mutator (PolgA(mut/mut)) mice. We discovered that 32% of these mice also exhibit stochastic disturbances of brain development, when maternal mtDNA mutations were combined with homozygosity for the PolgA mutation, leading to de novo somatic ...

Foxo transcription factors have been implicated in diverse biological processes, including metabolism, cellular stress responses, and aging. Here, we show that Foxo3a-/- female mice exhibit a distinctive ovarian phenotype of global follicular activation leading to oocyte death, early depletion of functional ovarian follicles, and secondary infertility. Foxo3a thus functions at the earliest stag...

Nlrp9a, Nlrp9b and Nlrp9c are preferentially expressed in oocytes and early embryos in the mouse. Simultaneous genetic ablation of Nlrp9a and Nlrp9c does not affect early embryonic development, but the function of Nlrp9b in the process of oocyte maturation and embryonic development has not been elucidated. Here we show that both Nlrp9b mRNA and its protein are expressed in ovaries and the small...

As Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites age, sperm become depleted, ovulation arrests, and oocytes accumulate in the gonad arm. Large ribonucleoprotein (RNP) foci form in these arrested oocytes that contain RNA-binding proteins and translationally masked maternal mRNAs. Within 65 min of mating, the RNP foci dissociate and fertilization proceeds. The majority of arrested oocytes with foci resul...

this study investigated the effect of different harvesting techniques on the recovery rate and quality of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes (cocs) and their subsequent developmental competence including in vitro maturation, fertilization and blastocyst formation. the cocs were retrieved from slaughter ovaries using aspiration, slicing, or aspiration followed by slicing. the cocs were examined mic...

STUDY QUESTION Is the postovulatory aging-dependent differential decrease of mRNAs and polyadenylation of mRNAs coded by maternal effect genes associated with altered abundance and distribution of maternal effect and RNA-binding proteins (MSY2)? SUMMARY ANSWER Postovulatory aging results in differential reduction in abundance of maternal effect proteins, loss of RNA-binding proteins from spec...

Among endocrine organs, ovaries are unique because their function is supported by an ever-changing number of histological entities, the ovarian follicles, which themselves subject to asynchronous development from formation up ovulation. Follicle combines finely controlled processes cell dynamics with original morphogenesis steps. Understanding follicle populations, on whole ovary level, and cou...

Introduction: Oocyte quality and fertility decline with advanced maternal age. During maturation within the ovarian follicle, oocyte relies on associated somatic cells, specifically cumulus granulosa to acquire essential components for developmental capacity. Methods: A nontargeted metabolomics approach was used investigate effects of mare age different cell types dominant, follicular-phase fol...

Background: Successful in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is an important step for production of livestock through assisted reproductive techniques including somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Obtaining an optimal duration for maturation of oocyte is essential, since over exposure to maturation medium results in oocyte aging, while under exposure leads to production of immature incompetent...