Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Oogenesis

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...

Oogenesis

Oogenesis

Oogenesis, the process of developing egg cells (female gametes), occurs within the ovaries and is fundamental to female fertility. This sequence begins during fetal development when diploid oogonia in the developing ovaries undergo mitotic divisions to produce primary oocytes. By birth, these primary oocytes enter prophase I of meiosis but become arrested in this stage, remaining suspended until puberty.
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...

Aging

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers. Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis. Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Re-Vitrification at the Pronuclear and Blastocyst Stage of Porcine Embryos Obtained From Vitrified Immature Oocytes.

Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho·2025

Same author

Vitrification of porcine immature oocytes and pronuclear parthenotes delays development at the time of embryonic genome activation: A time-lapse study.

Cryobiology·2025

Same author

Heritabilities for copy number variation of porcine endogenous retrovirus by a quantitative PCR.

Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho·2024

Same author

Maternal total sleep deprivation causes oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in oocytes associated with fertility decline in mice.

PloS one·2024

Same author

CtIP regulates G2/M transition and bipolar spindle assembly during mouse oocyte meiosis.

Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao·2024

Same author

Editorial: New perspectives from the new Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Molecular Histology.

Journal of molecular histology·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application

Published on: August 19, 2019

Oocyte aging: cellular and molecular changes, developmental potential and reversal possibility.

Yi-Liang Miao¹, Kazuhiro Kikuchi, Qing-Yuan Sun

¹State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.

Human Reproduction Update

|May 12, 2009

Summary

Oocyte aging negatively impacts fertilization and embryo development. Treatments can delay or reverse oocyte aging, improving success rates in assisted reproduction technologies (ART) and leading to healthier embryos.

More Related Videos

Production and Use of Customizable Agarose Molds for Scaffold-Free Mouse Ovarian Follicle Culture

Production and Use of Customizable Agarose Molds for Scaffold-Free Mouse Ovarian Follicle Culture

Published on: October 24, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application

Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application

Published on: August 19, 2019

Production and Use of Customizable Agarose Molds for Scaffold-Free Mouse Ovarian Follicle Culture

Production and Use of Customizable Agarose Molds for Scaffold-Free Mouse Ovarian Follicle Culture

Published on: October 24, 2025

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Developmental Biology
Assisted Reproduction Technologies

Background:

Oocyte aging significantly affects fertilization and embryo development.
Failures in assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are often linked to aged oocytes.
Effective methods to control oocyte aging are crucial for modern ART.

Purpose of the Study:

To review changes in aged oocytes impacting fertilization and development.
To present strategies for preventing or delaying oocyte aging.

Main Methods:

Literature review of oocyte aging.
Analysis of cellular and molecular changes in aged oocytes.
Evaluation of methods to prevent, delay, or reverse oocyte aging.

Main Results:

Oocyte aging leads to cellular and molecular abnormalities.
Treatments like caffeine and DL-dithiothreitol can correct age-related molecular pathways.
Prevention, delay, or reversal of oocyte aging is achievable to varying degrees.

Conclusions:

Oocyte aging involves molecular processes that impair fertilization and development.
Treatments can delay or reverse oocyte aging, enhancing ART success.
Interventions increase healthy embryo production and reduce ART failures associated with aged oocytes.