Abstract: Mammalian oocyte maturation is a complex physiological process regulated by a vast number of factors, which aims to produce a fertilizable oocyte from the oocyte finished already the meiotic division and arrested in the secondary metaphase. The meiotic division arrested in secondary metaphase is mainly dependent on the cytoplasm cAMP at high concentration. Meanwhile, many factors and their signaling pathways, as well as cellular structures, are involved in promoting the meiotic division and oocyte maturation, such as LH, EGF, ERK1/2, p38MAPK, Ca2+ and gap junction. Oocyte maturation and its molecular regulation were reviewed, so as to provide useful references for the research and treatment of female infertility and the in vitro maturation.

Key words: Oocytes, Meiosis, Ovarian follicle, Signal transduction, Mammals