Cracking the code of bovine oocytes: how miRNAs, mRNAs, and epigenetics shape oocyte maturation

Korte beschrijving

Over her lifetime, a female mammal ovulates only a small fraction of the oocytes present in her ovaries at birth. In vitro maturation (IVM) provides an opportunity to utilize this largely untapped biological resource. While IVM is routinely employed for in vitro embryo production in domestic animals, particularly cattle, it is not that common in human assisted reproductive technology (ART). Achieving successful oocyte maturation in vitro remains challenging, with many immature oocytes failing to progress to the blastocyst stage. Research indicates that the initial quality of the oocyte is the primary determinant of its potential to develop into a blastocyst. Yet, special attention needs to be paid to the IVM environment as this might affect oocyte transcriptome and epigenetic marks, further impacting the oocyte’s competence to develop into an embryo and produce healthy offspring later. Therefore, studying the factors that shape oocyte competence in relation to both the follicular environment and the conditions during maturation is fundamental to enhancing IVM protocols and the success rates of ART