Reproduction Abstracts

Oocytes are arrested in prophase I until the LH surge, which stimulates an EGF-like growth factor signaling cascade critical for cumulus expansion, and releases meiotic arrest while inhibiting the expression of natriuretic peptide C (NPPC). In rodents, there is evidence that KIT ligand (KITLG) secreted from granulosa/cumulus cells may also enhance nuclear maturation of the oocyte. The objective of the present study was to measure the expression of KITLG in bovine cumulus–...