Intrafollicular influences on human oocyte developmental competence: perifollicular vascularity, oocyte metabolism and mitochondrial function

While genetic and epigenetic factors have been associated with the developmental competence of human oocytes and embryos produced by IVF, how such factors develop or influence the oocyte remain to be explained. This paper reviews evidence which suggests that the degree of perifollicular vascular expansion associated with increased rates of blood flow are developmentally important for the generation of a normal follicle and competent oocyte. The degree of vascular development is follicle specific and differences between follicles might reflect their unique abilities to regulate angiogenic growth factor(s) production by the follicle cells in response to hypoxia. The notion that mitochondrial function in oocytes and early embryos could be influenced by intrafollicular conditions, and that differential patterns of mitochondrial segregation occur in blastomeres during early cleavage, is discussed with respect to the role of these organelles as critical determinants of developmental competence.