Structural aspects of oocyte maturation in the blue fox (Alopex lagopus).

Blood samples were taken weekly from seventeen mature blue fox vixens (average age five years), from late anoestrus until pro-oestrus, and then taken daily. The vixens were sacrificed at various stages of oestrus, and oocytes were collected from ovarian follicles by aspiration, and/or from oviducts by flushing. The structural features of oocyte maturation were related to the time of the luteinizing hormone (LH) peak. On days 1-2 after the LH peak the oocyte nucleus migrated from a central to a peripheral position in the ooplasm and assumed a flattened appearance. The cumulus investment expanded simultaneously and ovulation took place around day 2. On days 2-3 the oocyte nuclear envelope broke down, the nucleoli disappeared, the metaphase of the first meiotic division was reached, the Golgi complexes decreased in size, the perivitelline space enlarged, and all junctional contact between cumulus cell projections and oocyte was disrupted. On days 3-5 the first polar body was extruded, the metaphase of the second meiotic division was reached, and the cumulus cells degenerated. On day 5 the release of cortical granule content was occasionally seen, and from day 6 the oocytes showed signs of degeneration. In a few animals deviant oocyte maturation was noticed.