Bioscientifica Proceedings

It is necessary to understand the basic physiology underlying the complex process of folliculogenesis to address common causes of infertility and to devise innovative strategies to increase the efficiency of assisted reproduction technologies. Availability of suitable ovarian tissue is a major constraint to research in this area in humans, and monovulatory domestic ruminants represent a physiologically relevant model to elucidate basic mechanisms before more focused clinical i...

The development of technologies to grow and mature oocytes from the most abundant primordial follicles holds many attractions for clinical practice, animal production technology and research. However, despite much research attention, it has proved difficult to grow follicles from early stages to maturity in vitro, as relatively little is known about the biology of oogenesis. It is clear that throughout oocyte development in vivo, follicle cell support is fund...

While the role of oestradiol and progesterone in the control of GnRH pulsatile secretion and generation of the preovulatory GnRH surge to induce release of the LH surge has been fully investigated, less attention has been given to changes in the pituitary gland that may sensitize gonadotrophs to switch from pulsatile release to surge release of LH, in particular. Furthermore, in the follicular phase while pulsatile secretion of LH is maximal, FSH secretion is reduced, yet both...

In nuclear transfer reconstructed embryos, the co-ordination of donor nuclear and recipient cytoplasmic cell cycle phases is essential to maintain ploidy and prevent DNA damage. However, the stage of the cell cycle at the time of reconstruction and the method of reconstruction may also have a significant impact on the subsequent development of the embryo and fetus through a number of other mechanisms. This paper reviews some of the information currently available and proposes ...

The development of nuclear transfer from tissue culture cells in livestock made it possible in principle to produce animals with subtle, directed genetic changes by in vitro modification of nuclear donor cells. In the short period since nuclear transfer was first performed, gene targeting in livestock has become a reality. Although gene targeting has immediate potential in biotechnology, it is unclear whether there are practical agricultural applications, at present. ...