BACKGROUND Infertility affects between 10 and 16% of couples worldwide. Twenty to 30%
of cases of infertility are due to a male factor, 20–35% to a female factor, and 25–40% are …

Assisted reproduction technology (ART) has become an attractive option for infertility
treatment and holds tremendous promise. However, at present, there is still room for …

Calcium (Ca2+) signals initiate egg activation across the animal kingdom and in at least
some plants. These signals are crucial for the success of development and, in the case of …

Abstract Calcium (Ca2+) signals drive the fundamental events surrounding fertilization and
the activation of development in all species examined to date. Initial studies of Ca2+ …

Changes in the intracellular concentration of free calcium ([Ca2+] i) regulate diverse cellular
processes including fertilization. In mammalian eggs, the [Ca2+] i changes induced by the …

Oocyte activation is a calcium (Ca 2+)-dependent process that has been investigated in
depth, in particular, regarding its impact on assisted reproduction technology (ART) …

Fertilization causes mature oocytes or eggs to increase their concentrations of intracellular
calcium ions (Ca2+) in all animals that have been examined, and such Ca2+ elevations, in …

The success of mammalian development following fertilization depends on a series of
transient increases in egg cytoplasmic Ca2+, referred to as Ca2+ oscillations. Maintenance …

Litter size, which is a complex economic trait in sheep, is affected by polygenes. Hu sheep
are a prolific native breed in China and also an ideal resource for studying the genetic …

The proper maturation of both male and female gametes is essential for supporting
fertilization and the early embryonic divisions. In the ovary, immature fully-grown oocytes …