Molecular Aspects of the Quality and Biological Diversity of Oocytes of Different Species—A Challenge for Reproductive Applications

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.

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Dawid Tobolski and Dr. Mohammadreza Ebrahimi.

Dr. Krzysztof Papis
Guest Editor

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