title: Oocyte quality and maternal control of development.
abstract: The oocyte is a unique and highly specialized cell responsible for creating, activating, and controlling the embryonic genome, as well as supporting basic processes such as cellular homeostasis, metabolism, and cell cycle progression in the early embryo. During oogenesis, the oocyte accumulates a myriad of factors to execute these processes. Oogenesis is critically dependent upon correct oocyte-follicle cell interactions. Disruptions in oogenesis through environmental factors and changes in maternal health and physiology can compromise oocyte quality, leading to arrested development, reduced fertility, and epigenetic defects that affect long-term health of the offspring. Our expanding understanding of the molecular determinants of oocyte quality and how these determinants can be disrupted has revealed exciting new insights into the role of oocyte functions in development and evolution.
authors.affiliation: Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Namdori R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Mtango
authors.forename: Santhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Potireddy
authors.forename: Keith E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Latham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D016764:Cell Polarity; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009866:Oogenesis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger