Understanding Oocyte Quality and Metabolism in IVF

Oocyte quality is one of the key determinants of fertilization success, embryo development, and live birth, yet it remains one of the least characterized processes in reproductive biology. Conventional selection in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) relies on a few morphological criteria that capture only a fraction of the biological mechanisms driving developmental competence, and clinically validated tools to assess oocyte quality remain scarce. Recent advances in single-cell omics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and live imaging have begun to point to ocyte metabolism and mtiochondria as key players in developmental competence acquisition. The mitochondrion in particular is increasingly recognised as a mirror of oocyte health, influencing not only ATP production but also redox balance, calcium signalling, lipid metabolism, and epigenetic regulation through metabolite availability. Aside from bioenergetics, lipidomic profiling of oocytes, cumulus cells, and follicular fluid is emerging as a promising avenue, and the integration of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics at single-cell resolution is opening new windows to understand molecular determinants of oocyte competence.This Research Topic welcomes contributions spanning oocyte metabolic biology, from fundamental mechanisms in animal models to translational tools applicable in IVF clinics. Animal models including bovine, porcine, murine, ovine, and non-human primate systems are welcome as they provide mechanistic evidencesand represent irreplaceable tools for dissecting metabolic checkpoints, testing interventions, and bridging the gap between basic discovery and clinical application. Contributions from industry and technology developers in metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics, microfluidics, and imaging are equally encouraged. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:· Mitochondrial biology, bioenergetics, and dynamics in oocyte maturation and competence· Lipid metabolism and lipidomic profiling of oocytes, cumulus cells, and follicular fluid· Metabolomic and single-cell multi-omics approaches to define oocyte quality· Cumulus-oocyte complex crosstalk and paracrine metabolic regulation· Maternal age, reproductive aging, and mitochondrial decline· Animal models as mechanistic and translational tools in oocyte biology· Nutritional, pharmacological, and environmental interventions targeting oocyte metabolism· Non-invasive assessment technologies and their clinical translation in ART· Epigenetics and transgenerational metabolic effects Topic editors: Filippo Zambelli, Sara Pietroforte Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80335/understanding-oocyte-quality-and-metabolism-in-ivf