Role of Lipid Droplets in the Development of Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos in Mammals

Abstract

Lipids are one of the most common and important cell components. Particularly, cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) play a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism. The consideration of the methods for studying intracellular lipids and their composition and role during the oocyte maturation and early embryonic development are the main directions of this review. Recent studies demonstrate that LDs in oocytes and embryos are not only repositories of the energy substrate but also active intracellular structures that perform many other functions.