Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: During female fetal life, mammalian oocytes begin meiosis and arrest in prophase of meiosis I when they become enclosed in primordial follicles. Bivalent chromosomes established during this time have to remain intact until they are resolved during anaphase I, just before ovulation. Bivalents are stabilized throughout this period by Rec8-containing cohesin complexes. In women, however, extending this period for more than 35 years increases the risk of aneuploidy r...