Cytoskeletal Alteration of Mammalian Oocytes During Meiotic Maturation, Fertilization and Parthenogenesis

Microtubules and microfilaments are major cytoskeletal components in mammalian ova that provide the framework for chromosomal movement and cellular division. Extensive changes of cytoskeletal organization occur during maturation and fertilization. The changes in cytoskeletons are essential for the normal meiotic maturation and for the formation of the biparental diploid genome of the embryo, and thus are repeated at each cell cycle during embryonic development. Disturbance of the cytoskeletal organization could result in abnormal gamete development and early embryonic death.