The mitochondria, present in almost all eukaryotic cells, produce energy but also contribute to many other essential cellular functions. One of the unique characteristics of the mitochondria is that they have their own genome, which is only maternally transmitted via highly specific mechanisms that occur during gametogenesis and embryogenesis. The mature oocyte has the highest mitochondrial DNA copy number of any cell. This high mitochondrial mass is directly correlated to the capacity of the oocyte to support the early stages of embryo development in many species. Indeed, the subtle energetic and metabolic modifications that are necessary for each of the key steps of early embryonic development rely heavily on the oocyte’s mitochondrial load and activity. For example, epigenetic reprogramming depends on the metabolic cofactors produced by the mitochondrial metabolism, and the reactive oxygen species derived from the mitochondrial respiratory chain are essential for the regulation of cell signaling in the embryo. All these elements have also led scientists to consider the mitochondria as a potential biomarker of oocyte competence and embryo viability, as well as a key target for future potential therapies. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings. This review article summarizes the past two decades of research that have led to the current understanding of mitochondrial functions in reproduction

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胚胎及其线粒体

几乎所有真核细胞中都存在的线粒体产生能量，但也有助于许多其他必需的细胞功能。线粒体的独特特征之一是它们具有自己的基因组，该基因组仅通过配子发生和胚胎发生期间发生的高度特定的机制在母体中传播。成熟的卵母细胞具有任何细胞中最高的线粒体DNA拷贝数。这种高的线粒体质量与卵母细胞在许多物种中支持胚胎发育早期的能力直接相关。实际上，早期胚胎发育的每个关键步骤所必需的微妙的能量和代谢修饰，在很大程度上取决于卵母细胞的线粒体负荷和活性。例如，表观遗传重编程取决于线粒体代谢产生的代谢辅因子，而线粒体呼吸链衍生的活性氧对于调节胚胎中的细胞信号至关重要。所有这些因素也促使科学家将线粒体视为卵母细胞能力和胚胎存活力的潜在生物标志物，以及未来潜在疗法的关键目标。但是，需要更多的研究来证实这些发现。这篇综述文章总结了过去二十年的研究，这些研究导致人们对生殖中线粒体功能的当前了解 所有这些因素也促使科学家将线粒体视为卵母细胞能力和胚胎存活力的潜在生物标志物，以及未来潜在疗法的关键目标。但是，需要更多的研究来证实这些发现。这篇综述文章总结了过去二十年的研究，这些研究导致人们对线粒体生殖功能的最新认识 所有这些因素也促使科学家将线粒体视为卵母细胞能力和胚胎存活力的潜在生物标志物，以及未来潜在疗法的关键目标。但是，需要更多的研究来证实这些发现。这篇综述文章总结了过去二十年的研究，这些研究导致人们对线粒体生殖功能的最新认识