Molecular Basis of Meiotic Maturation and Apoptosis of Oocytes. Sperm-Oocyte Interactions and Early Cleavage of Embryos in Mice. aole of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase. Mos. Fas-Fas Ligand. Integrina6 and MAP Kinase

The interaction between molecular biology and embryology made anextensive progress in the research on gametogenesis, fertilization and earlyembryogenesis in mice. in this article, molecules involving in meioticmaturation and apoptosis of oocytes, sperm-oocyte interactions and earlycleavage of fertilized embryos in mice are described including our recentfollowing experiments. 1) phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and akt participate inthe follicle stimulating hormone-induced meiotic maturation of mouseoocytes. 2) mos plays a crucial role in normal spindle and chromosomemorphology and the reactivation of maturation promoting factor after firstmeiosis. 3) follicular atresia is caused by apoptosis and the apoptosisassociated with internucleosomal dna fragmentation is directly regulated bythe fas-fas ligand system. 4) integrin a6~1 is involved in sperm-egg bindingleading to fusion via direct association of the integrin a6 with sperm. 5) mapkinase cascade is activated at the m-phase and some map kinases otherthan erks are activated during early cleavage of fertilized eggs.