Molecular Aspects of the Quality and Biological Diversity of Oocytes of Different Species—A Challenge for Reproductive Applications
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2026 | Viewed by 60
Special Issue Editor
2. Novum Fertility Clinic, Bociania str. 13, 02-807 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: human and animal reproductive technologies; oocyte growth; maturation; fertilization; embryo development; cryopreservation of oocytes; embryos; ovarian tissue
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Oocytes represent one of the most fascinating and complex cell types in mammalian biology. Their long and highly regulated development—from the primordial follicle, through preantral and antral stages, to maturation, ovulation, fertilization, and early embryogenesis—requires intricate coordination of signaling networks, epigenetic regulation, and communication with follicular cells. The acquisition of oocyte developmental competence depends on multiple, species-specific factors. At the molecular level, this process is tightly controlled by dynamic changes in gene expression, maternal RNA regulation, and precise modulation of signaling cascades.
The biological diversity of mammalian oocytes directly affects basic and applied reproductive research. Differences in size, ultrastructure, mitochondrial activity, and transcriptomic or proteomic profiles translate into variable outcomes of in vitro maturation, fertilization, and embryo development. With the growing interest in assisted reproductive technologies, understanding these interspecies and intraspecific variations becomes crucial for reliable quality assessment of oocytes and for developing standardized criteria that could be supported by artificial intelligence and high-throughput molecular tools.
This Special Issue of IJMS aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date platform to publish original research or up-to-date review papers on the topics, including the following:
- Morphological, molecular, and AI-based strategies for oocyte quality assessment;
- Molecular determinants of oocyte quality and developmental competence;
- In vitro culture of ovarian follicles;
- Regulation of oocyte growth, maturation, and competence acquisition;
- Comparative studies of oocyte biology across mammalian species;
- New biomarkers and therapeutic interventions to enhance oocyte developmental potential.
This Special Issue seeks contributions that advance knowledge of oocyte molecular biology and stimulate translational applications in reproductive medicine and biotechnology. Papers connecting molecular mechanisms with functional outcomes will be particularly welcomed.
Dr. Krzysztof Papis
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- molecular determinants of oocyte quality
- developmental competence
- in vitro maturation (IVM)
- follicular fluid composition
- reproductive biotechnology
- assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
- comparative oocyte biology
- artificial intelligence in reproduction
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
