Oocytes
- Pronunciation
- /OH-uh-sights/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- oocyte
- Plural
- oocytes
Definition
female germ that undergo to produce mature ; in , oocytes arise from oogonia in the germarium of the ovary and progress through previtellogenic growth, , and maturation before ovulation. The term distinguishes developing from the final mature egg ready for .
Etymology
Greek ōon () + kytos ()
Example
In Drosophila melanogaster, each contains a germarium where oogonia differentiate into oocytes; these oocytes then move posteriorly, accumulating during until they reach stage 14 as mature ready for oviposition.
Synonyms
- immature ovum
- egg mother cell
Related Terms
- oogonia
- Ovariole
- Vitellogenesis
- Oogenesis
- germarium
- nurse cells
- follicle cells
- oviposition
- polar body
Usage Notes
reserve 'oocyte' for the meiotic stages between oogonium and mature ; in insects with meroistic ovaries, oocytes are accompanied by nurse that provide maternal mRNAs and proteins. Contrast with 'ovum' (the mature, ovulated ) and 'ootid' (the haploid product of II before polar body formation). The term applies broadly across Metazoa but specifics of oocyte development vary enormously between insects with panoistic versus meroistic ovaries.