Cumulus-oocyte complex interactions during oocyte maturation.

In most mammals, the oocyte in the Graafian follicle is surrounded by tightly packed layers of cumulus cells, forming the cumulus-oocyte complex. During the preovulatory period, cumulus cells change from a compact cell mass into a dispersed structure of cells for the synthesis and deposition of a mucoid intercellular matrix, a process referred to as cumulus expansion. Cumulus expansion is thought to influence a variety of fundamental developmental changes during oocyte maturation. Volumetric expansion of the cumulus-oocyte complex correlates, at least in pig, with the outcome of oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development. Therefore, detailed functional studies of cumulus expansion seem to be required to elucidate the mechanism of oocyte maturation. We summarize the current knowledge about (1) morphological changes of cumulus-oocyte complexes during oocyte maturation, (2) follicle factors inducing cumulus expansion, (3) the role of cumulus expansion in oocyte maturation, (4) cytoplasmic regulators of oocyte maturation, and (5) possible roles of cumulus expansion.