title: Formation of mammalian oocytes and their growth, differentiation and maturation within ovarian follicles.
abstract: The limited knowledge on the regulation of oocyte formation, the different steps of folliculogenesis and the required conditions for oocytes to undergo proper growth, differentiation and maturation are major causes of the failure in obtaining viable offspring from in vitro cultured early oocytes from domestic animals and humans. This review highlights the factors that at present are known to be involved in the formation of mammalian oocytes and their growth, differentiation and maturation within ovarian follicles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 90151, Yalelaan 7, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508TD, The Netherlands. r.vandenhurk@vet.uu.nl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van den Hurk
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D011494:Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D011494:Protein Kinases