Oocyte

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An oocyte (, oöcyte, or ovocyte) is an immature egg cell (or ovum) in the female reproductive system, produced prenatally in the ovary during the process of gametogenesis. Primordial germ cells migrate to the embryonic gonad. After sexual differentiation they proliferate by mitosis to produce a very large number of oogonia. The oogonia clump together in germ cell nests where they associate with somatic cells resulting in the formation of ovarian follicles. A follicle consists of an oogonium now known as a primary oocyte surrounded by a layer of supportive follicular cells. The first follicles are known as primordial follicles. Two processes of oogenesis, and folliculogenesis are interdependent in the development of the egg cell. The primary oocytes remain as primary oocytes until the primordial follicles progress through primary to secondary follicle and the primary oocyte becomes a secondary oocyte. An oocyte is a form of genetic material that can be collected for cryopreservation.

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