Mutant Zp1 impedes incorporation of ZP3 and ZP4 in the zona pellucida, resulting in zona absence and female infertility in rats†.

The zona pellucida (ZP) plays vital roles in reproductive processes including oogenesis, fertilization, and preimplantation development. Both human and rat ZP consist of four glycoproteins, called ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, and ZP4. Our previous research reported a novel Zp1 mutation in cases of human infertility, associated with an abnormal phenotype involving the absence of the ZP.

Influence of mouse defective zona pellucida in folliculogenesis on apoptosis of granulosa cells and developmental competence of oocytes†.

Zona pellucida (ZP), which enwraps the oocyte during folliculogenesis, initially forms in the primary follicle and plays an important role in female fertility. Here, we investigated a mouse strain ("mutant mice" for short) carrying two types of ZP defects in folliculogenesis, i.e.

in extracellular vesicles contributes to the growth of fertilized eggs and embryo development in mice.

Human preimplantation embryo development is susceptible to high rates of early embryo wastage. We determined the expression of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in fertilized eggs and embryos of varying stages and their response to microinjection. Sexually mature female and male mice were mated.