Application of C-type natriuretic peptide in biphasic in vitro maturation system

The definition of oocytes in vitro maturation (IVM) is that the maturation in vitro of immature cumulus-oocyte complexs (COCs) collected from antral follicles. IVM was firstly used in human in 1991, but it developed very slowly. Now researchers pay more and more attention to IVM. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) can sustain the arrest of oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV) stage. According to this, biphasic IVM system based on CNP is established, and it works effectively in multi-species. Recently, it was proved that this kind of IVM system can improve human oocytes maturation rate and the developmental competence of mature oocytes. This article summarizes the action principle of CNP and the research advances of biphasic IVM system. Key words: In vitro maturation (IVM); C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP); Natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPRB or NPR2)