Roles of Meiotic Defects in Pathogenesis of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

A matured oocyte has experienced three critical division stages: (1) proliferation in early fetal stage, (2) meiotic arrest at diplotene of prophase I, and (3) meiotic resumption and extrusion of the first polar body. The abnormalities of these stages are associated closely with female reproduction problems including primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), the pathogenic mechanisms of which consist of insufficient initial follicle number, accelerated follicle loss, and arrest of follicle development. Recently, many meiotic associated genetic factors were identified to be mutated in POI patients and mouse models, revealing the association between meiosis and ovarian reserve. In this review, we provide an overview of the genetic factors involved in meiotic prophase I and their pathogenic mechanisms in POI.