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The biology and technology of follicular oocyte development in vitro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2009

RG Gosden ,
NI Boland ,
N Spears ,
AA Murray ,
M Chapman ,
JC Wade ,
NI Zohdy  and
N Brown
RG Gosden*
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
NI Boland
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
N Spears
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
AA Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
M Chapman
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
JC Wade
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
NI Zohdy
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
N Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Edinburgh, UK
*
RG Gosden, Department of Physiology, University Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK.
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Extract

Fully mature oocytes are the rarest cells in the body. A premenopausal woman produces only one during each menstrual cycle and that survives for just a single day. Ovarian productivity is parsimonious in order that the ovulation rate matches the optimal capacity of the uterus for carrying conceptuses to full-term. But, in this new era of assisted reproductive medicine, there are many applications for which spare oocytes are needed (Table 1), and it is desirable to obtain more cells than are routinely available during superstimulated cycles. Since the great majority of ovarian oocytes undergo atresia (> 99.9%), the possibility of tapping the store of immature oocytes before they degenerate and maturing them in vitro is very attractive.

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Articles
Information
Reproductive Medicine Review , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , October 1993 , pp. 129 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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