The effects of biological aging on global DNA methylation, histone modification, and epigenetic modifiers in the mouse germinal vesicle stage oocyte.

A cultural trend in developed countries is favoring a delay in maternal age at first childbirth. In mammals fertility and chronological age show an inverse correlation. Oocyte quality is a contributing factor to this multifactorial phenomenon that may be influenced by age-related changes in the oocyte epigenome.