title: Zona pellucida surface of immature and in vitro matured mouse oocytes: analysis by scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to determine the morphology of the zona pellucida surface of immature and in vitro matured mouse oocytes by scanning electron microscopy. For this purpose two groups of immature oocytes (germinal vesicle group and metaphase I group) were studied either before or after in vitro maturation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before in vitro maturation, the germinal vesicle immature group showed mainly an unstructured zona pellucida surface with smooth cumulus cells. The metaphase I immature group showed a more structured zona pellucida with smooth or blebbing cumulus cells. After in vitro maturation, development of the zona pellucida toward a mature surface, related to the initial degree of oocyte maturity, was observed in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations show a correlation between the morphology of the zona pellucida surface and the degree of oocyte maturity; the in vitro maturation process can give rise to a proper development of this endowment when immature oocytes are used.
authors: Dept. Biologia Cel.lular i Fisiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Calafell
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Nogués
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ponsà
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Santaló
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Egozcue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009866:Oogenesis; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D013499:Surface Properties; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000648:ultrastructure*