Oocyte maturation is essential for proper fertilization, embryo implantation and early development. While the physiological conditions of these processes are relatively well‑known, its exact molecular mechanisms remain widely undiscovered. Oocyte growth, differentiation and maturation are therefore the subject of scientific debate. Precious literature has indicated that the oocyte itself serves a regulatory role in the mechanisms underlying these processes. Hence, the present study performed expression microarrays to analyze the complete transcriptome of porcine oocytes during their in vitro maturation (IVM). Pig material was used for experimentation, as it possesses similarities to the reproductive processes and general genetic proximities of Sus scrofa to human. Oocytes, isolated from the ovaries of slaughtered animals were assessed via the Brilliant Cresyl Blue test and directed to IVM. A number of oocytes were left to be analyzed as the 'before IVM' group. Oocyte mRNA was isolated and used for microarray analysis, which was subsequently validated via RT‑qPCR. The current study particularly focused on genes belonging to 'positive regulation of transcription, DNA‑dependent', 'positive regulation of gene expression', 'positive regulation of macromolecule metabolic process' and 'positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter' ontologies. FOS, VEGFA, ESR1, AR, CCND2, EGR2, ENDRA, GJA1, INHBA, IHH, INSR, APP, WWTR1, SMARCA1, NFAT5, SMAD4, MAP3K1, EGR1, RORA, ECE1, NR5A1, KIT, IKZF2, MEF2C, SH3D19, MITF and PSMB4 were all determined to be significantly altered (fold change, >|2|; P<0.05) among these groups, with their downregulation being observed after IVM. Genes with the most altered expressions were analyzed and considered to be potential markers of maturation associated with transcription regulation and macromolecule metabolism process.

Department of Anatomy Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan 60‑781 Poland

Department of Histology and Embryology Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan 60‑781 Poland

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital and Masaryk University Brno 601‑77 Czech Republic

Department of Toxicology Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan 60‑631 Poland

Division of Histology and Embryology Department of Human Morphology and Embryology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw 50‑368 Poland

Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology Department of Gynecology Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan 60‑535 Poland

Veterinary Center Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun Torun 87‑100 Poland

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