Chapter 1

b. Oocyte maturation stage 

  • <p><strong>Figure 10</strong></p><p>Denuded MII oocyte; an intact PBI is clearly visible in the PVS (400× magnification).</p>

    Figure 10

    Denuded MII oocyte; an intact PBI is clearly visible in the PVS (400× magnification).

  • <p><strong>Figure 11</strong></p><p>Denuded MII oocyte; the PBI is clearly visible in the narrow PVS (400× magnification).</p>

    Figure 11

    Denuded MII oocyte; the PBI is clearly visible in the narrow PVS (400× magnification).

  • <p><strong>Figure 12</strong></p><p>Denuded GV oocyte. A typical GV oocyte with an eccentrically placed nucleus and a prominent single nucleolus (400× magnification).</p>

    Figure 12

    Denuded GV oocyte. A typical GV oocyte with an eccentrically placed nucleus and a prominent single nucleolus (400× magnification).

  • <p><strong>Figure 13</strong></p><p>Denuded GV oocytes. Several GV with the organelles condensed centrally within the cytoplasm (200× magnification).</p>

    Figure 13

    Denuded GV oocytes. Several GV with the organelles condensed centrally within the cytoplasm (200× magnification).

  • <p><strong>Figure 14</strong></p><p>Denuded GV oocyte. A GV oocyte that is possibly approaching GVBD as the nuclear membrane is not distinct over its entirety (400× magnification).</p>

    Figure 14

    Denuded GV oocyte. A GV oocyte that is possibly approaching GVBD as the nuclear membrane is not distinct over its entirety (400× magnification).

  • <p><strong>Figure 15</strong></p><p>Denuded MI oocyte. This oocyte has no visible nucleus and has not as yet extruded the PBI (400× magnification). PVS is typically narrow.</p>

    Figure 15

    Denuded MI oocyte. This oocyte has no visible nucleus and has not as yet extruded the PBI (400× magnification). PVS is typically narrow.

  • <p><strong>Figure 16</strong></p><p>Denuded MI oocyte with no visible nucleus and no PBI (400× magnification). Some CCs are still tightly adhered to the ZP.</p>

    Figure 16

    Denuded MI oocyte with no visible nucleus and no PBI (400× magnification). Some CCs are still tightly adhered to the ZP.

  • <p><strong>Figure 17</strong></p><p>Denuded MI oocyte without a visible nucleus or an extruded PBI (400× magnification).</p>

    Figure 17

    Denuded MI oocyte without a visible nucleus or an extruded PBI (400× magnification).

  • <p><strong>Figure 18</strong></p><p>MII oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). The polar body is present at the 6 o'clock position in the PVS, and the MS of the second meiotic division is visible in the cytoplasm perfectly aligned to PB1 position. This is a fully mature MII oocyte.</p>

    Figure 18

    MII oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). The polar body is present at the 6 o'clock position in the PVS, and the MS of the second meiotic division is visible in the cytoplasm perfectly aligned to PB1 position. This is a fully mature MII oocyte.

  • <p><strong>Figure 19</strong></p><p>Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). PB1 is present in the PVS; however, the MS can be seen between PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that this oocyte is still completing the first meiotic division. This is not yet a fully mature MII oocyte.</p>

    Figure 19

    Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). PB1 is present in the PVS; however, the MS can be seen between PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that this oocyte is still completing the first meiotic division. This is not yet a fully mature MII oocyte.

  • <p><strong>Figure 20</strong></p><p>Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). The MS can be seen between PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that the first meiotic division is not yet completed.</p>

    Figure 20

    Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). The MS can be seen between PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that the first meiotic division is not yet completed.

  • <p><strong>Figure 21</strong></p><p>Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). PB1 is present in the PVS at the 3 o'clock position; however, the MS is still bridging PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that this oocyte is not yet a fully mature MII oocyte.</p>

    Figure 21

    Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). PB1 is present in the PVS at the 3 o'clock position; however, the MS is still bridging PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that this oocyte is not yet a fully mature MII oocyte.

  • <p><strong>Figure 22</strong></p><p>Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). The MS can be seen between PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that this oocyte is still completing the first meiotic division despite the extrusion of PB1 in the PVS.</p>

    Figure 22

    Telophase I oocyte visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). The MS can be seen between PB1 and the oocyte cytoplasm indicating that this oocyte is still completing the first meiotic division despite the extrusion of PB1 in the PVS.

  • <p><strong>Figure 23</strong></p><p>Interphase oocyte (between the first and second meiotic division; Prophase II) visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). PB1 is present in the PVS at the 6 o'clock position; however, the MS of the second meiotic division is not yet visible in the cytoplasm. This is not yet a fully mature MII oocyte.</p>

    Figure 23

    Interphase oocyte (between the first and second meiotic division; Prophase II) visualized using polarized light microscopy (400× magnification). PB1 is present in the PVS at the 6 o'clock position; however, the MS of the second meiotic division is not yet visible in the cytoplasm. This is not yet a fully mature MII oocyte.