Spatiotemporal Distribution and Function of Mitochondria in Oocytes

Mitochondria are energy provider organelles in eukaryotic cells that contain their own specific genome. This review addresses structural and functional properties of mitochondria, focusing on recent discoveries about the changes in quality and number of mitochondria per cell during oocyte development. We highlight how oocyte mitochondria exhibit stage-specific morphology and characteristics at different stages of development, in sharp contrast to the elongated mitochondria present in somatic cells. We then evaluate the latest transcriptomic data to elucidate the complex functions of mitochondria during oocyte maturation and the impact of mitochondria on oocyte development. Finally, we describe the methodological progress of mitochondrial replacement therapy to rescue oocytes with developmental disorders or mitochondrial diseases, hoping to provide a guiding reference to future clinical applications.

Automated summary

This review focuses on the structural and functional properties of mitochondria as energy provider organelles in eukaryotic cells. It discusses the changes in quality and number of mitochondria during oocyte development, highlighting the stage-specific morphology and characteristics of oocyte mitochondria. It also evaluates the complex functions of mitochondria during oocyte maturation and their impact on oocyte development using transcriptomic data, and describes the progress of mitochondrial replacement therapy for rescuing oocytes with developmental disorders or mitochondrial diseases.