What is the oocyte cumulus complex?

Cumulus Oocyte Complex: Cumulus Cells Regulate Oocyte Growth and Maturation. Cumulus cells directly surround oocyte to form cumulus oocyte complex (COC). The signaling pathway plays important roles in oocyte meiotic maturation and cumulus expansion (accumulation of hyaluronan-rich matrix within cumulus cell layers).

Where do oocytes develop?

An oocyte is an immature egg (an immature ovum). Oocytes develop to maturity from within a follicle. These follicles are found in the outside layer of the ovaries. During each reproductive cycle, several follicles begin to develop.

What are cumulus cells?

Introduction. Cumulus cells are defined as a group of closely associated granulosa cells that surround the oocyte and participate in the processes of oocyte maturation and fertilization. Cumulus cell function is dependent on gap junctions that form between cumulus cells and oocytes.

What happens if Polyspermy occurs?

In biology, polyspermy describes an egg that has been fertilized by more than one sperm. The cell resulting from polyspermy, on the other hand, contains three or more copies of each chromosome—one from the egg and one each from multiple sperm. Usually, the result is an unviable zygote.

What is gamete?

Gametes are an organism’s reproductive cells. They are also referred to as sex cells. Female gametes are called ova or egg cells, and male gametes are called sperm. Gametes are haploid cells, and each cell carries only one copy of each chromosome. These cells develop into sperm or ova.

How long does it take to develop oocyte?

The maturation of eggs typically takes about 14 days and can be divided into 2 distinct periods. During the initial period, many eggs, as many as 1000, begin to develop and mature. The second phase of development requires gonadal hormone stimulation to stimulate further development.

Is primary oocyte released during ovulation?

The primary oocyte resumes meiosis and divides to form asecondary oocyte and a smaller cell, called a polar body. A follicle matures and its primary oocyte (follicle) resumes meiosis to form a secondary oocyte in the secondary follicle. The follicle ruptures and the oocyte leaves the ovary during ovulation.

What is oocyte?

Oocyte: A female germ cell in the process of development. The oocyte is produced in the ovary by an ancestral cell called an oogonium and gives rise to the ovum (the egg), which can be fertilized.

What are the cells surrounding the oocyte?

The granulosa cells that surround the oocyte, and project into the antrum are called as the cumulus oophorus. There is a basement membrane between the granulosa cells and the theca interna. The fibrous theca externa merges with the surrounding stroma.

What happens to the secondary oocyte after fertilization?

The secondary oocyte then commences meiosis 2 which arrests at metaphase and will not continue without fertilization. At fertilization meiosis 2 completes, forming a second polar body. Note that the first polar body may also undergo this process forming a third polar body.

How does mTOR affect the development of the oocyte?

Therefore, MTOR-dependent pathways in primordial or growing oocytes differentially affected downstream processes including follicular development, sex-specific identity of early granulosa cells, maintenance of oocyte genome integrity, oocyte gene expression, meiosis, and preimplantation developmental competence.”

Where does the Cumulus mass go after ovulation?

The cumulus mass is actually ovulated into the bursa, where it is jostled by movement of the ovary and oviduct until it comes into contact with cilia on the fimbrial surface and is picked up. 7,283,284 At ovulation in the hamster, follicular contents are extruded as a long, sticky strand of cumulus, matrix, and oocyte.

Which is more glycolytic cumulus or granulosa cells?

In the mouse, the secondary follicle stage through to large antral follicle stage the oocyte has a highly oxidative metabolism. In contrast, the surrounding surrounding granulosa and cumulus cells are highly glycolytic. In this second group, the cumulus cells are found to be more glycolytic than the granulosa cells.