About this Research Topic
The current Research Topic takes a starting point in human ovarian physiology and regulation, with a focus on dormancy and activation as well as understanding ovarian dysfunction such as infertility polycystic ovarian syndrome and cancers. Additionally, chromosome alignment is crucial for oocyte integrity and a large fraction of human eggs have extra or missing chromosomes (aneuploidy). Prior to maturation, immature oocytes are arrested in prophase I of meiosis I, the germinal vesicle stage (GV). During maturation, oocytes undergo GV Breakdown, GVBD, complete meiosis I, and re-arrest at the metaphase II of meiosis II (MII stage), which is the stage of ovulation and fertilization. Egg activation is widely thought to be triggered by increases in the intracellular concentrations of free Calcium ([Ca2+]i), which are induced by release of the fertilizing spermatozoon’s “sperm factor”, identified as phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCζ). The epigenetic status and dynamics of chromosomes is likewise essential for embryonic development. Failure in correct establishment and/or maintanance of epigenetic organisation in germ cells and preimplantation embryos can cause abberant genomic reprogramming and cell fate commitments and thus cause embryonic abortion. Cell differentiation, growth and commitment are pivotal for many processes in embryo development and pregnancy and contributions in this regard are included as well.
We encourage papers on several aspects associated with developmental processes including cell growth and division that can provide new links to our current understanding of the mechanisms that govern the formation of these very unique reproductive and early embryonic cells. This includes contributions on dormant and activated oocytes and follicle compartments, oocyte maturation and egg activation, fertilization events and several insights into preimplantation embryonic development.
Thus, potential topics may have a broad scope within developmental and cellular processes to understand the complex network that regulate cells, with a focus on molecular and cellular profiling, cellular biology and physiology, gene regulation, epigenetics and genomic imprinting. Studies ranging from the molecular and cellular level to the integrated organ and organism level are encouraged as are contributions from several model systems.
The Research Topic aims to support progress towards understanding the different set of developmental processes that are absolutely required to complete all the steps essential for successful embryonic development, under physiological conditions. We seek contributions that deal with single cells, interaction between cells as well as intra- and extracellular signal transduction. The topic is open to original studies covering experimental and theoretical approaches, descriptions of new methodologies, reviews and opinions.
We encourage papers on several aspects associated with developmental processes including cell growth and division that can provide new links to our current understanding of the mechanisms that govern the formation of these very unique reproductive and early embryonic cells. This includes contributions on dormant and activated oocytes and follicle compartments, oocyte maturation and egg activation, fertilization events and several insights into preimplantation embryonic development.
Thus, potential topics may have a broad scope within developmental and cellular processes to understand the complex network that regulate cells, with a focus on molecular and cellular profiling, cellular biology and physiology, gene regulation, epigenetics and genomic imprinting. Studies ranging from the molecular and cellular level to the integrated organ and organism level are encouraged as are contributions from several model systems.
The Research Topic aims to support progress towards understanding the different set of developmental processes that are absolutely required to complete all the steps essential for successful embryonic development, under physiological conditions. We seek contributions that deal with single cells, interaction between cells as well as intra- and extracellular signal transduction. The topic is open to original studies covering experimental and theoretical approaches, descriptions of new methodologies, reviews and opinions.
Keywords: epigenetics, calcium signaling and signal transduction, cell biology and cell fate, Fertilisation, Preimplantation development, Reprogramming
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
