Table of Contents:

Part I:  Historical Perspective

Chapter 1.     The Magic and Mystery of the Oocyte:  ex ovo omnia

Part II:  Life Cycle

Chapter 2.     Ontogeny of the Mammalian Ovary

Chapter 3.     The Early Stages of Follicular Growth

Chapter 4.     Modeling the Dynamics of Ovarian Follicle Utilization Throughout Life

Chapter 5.     Comparative Aspects of Oogenesis

Part III:  Developmental Biology

Chapter 6.     Oocyte-Specific Gene Expression:  Roles in Folliculogenesis, Fertilization and Early Development

Chapter 7.     Storage and Functional Recovery of Molecules in Oocytes

Chapter 8.     Endocrine Regulation of Meiosis- Local and Systemic Hormonal Influences

Chapter 9.     Checkpoint Controls in Mammalian Oocytes

Chapter 10.   Fertilization:  Fate of Sperm Components After ICSI

Chapter 11.   Activation of the Mammalian Egg

Chapter 12.   Clinical Applications in Symmetry, Asymmetry and Polarity in Early Human Development

Part IV:  Pathology

Chapter 13.   Morphology and Pathology of the Human Oocyte

Chapter 14.   The Legacy of Mitochondrial DNA

Chapter 15.   Aneuploidy in Ageing Oocytes and After Toxic Insult

Chapter 16.   Genetic Basis of Primary Ovarian Failure

Part V:  Technology and Clinical Medicine

Chapter 17.   Growth and Development of the Mammalian Oocyte-Granulosa Cell Complex in Culture

Chapter 18.   Human Oocyte Maturation in vitro

Chapter 19.   Follicular Factors Affecting Oocyte Maturation and Developmental Competence

Chapter 20.   Low Temperature Storage of Follicular and Ovulated Oocytes

Chapter 21.   Fecundity of Transplanted Ovaries