Preface; Abstract; Contents; Part I: Oocyte Interactions with Environment; Chapter 1: Exogenous Molecule and Organelle Delivery in Oogenesis; 1.1 Internal Versus External Source of Oocyte-/Egg-Specific Molecules; 1.2 Exogenous Molecules, Their Sources and Routs of Delivery to the Oocyte/Egg; 1.2.1 Exchange Through the Gap Junctions; 1.2.2 Transfer from Body Fluids; 1.2.3 Transfer of Large-Size Molecules Through the Gametic Synapses and Tunneling Nanotubes; 1.3 Transfer of Sperm-Derived Components and Epigenetic Heredity; 1.3.1 Sperm-Derived Mitochondria and Centrioles

1.3.2 Sperm-Derived RNAs1.4 Transfer from Somatic Cells and Testicular Fluid to Sperm; 1.5 Conclusions; References; Chapter 2: Control of Mammalian Oocyte Development by Interactions with the Maternal Follicular Environment; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Generating Primordial Follicles; 2.3 Growth and Maturation of the Oocyte and Its Follicle; 2.4 Mechanisms of Granulosa Cell-Oocyte Communication; 2.4.1 Gap Junctions; 2.4.2 Secreted Factors; 2.5 Transzonal Projections: Bridges for Granulosa Cell-Oocyte Communication

2.6 Granulosa Cell-Oocyte Communication at the Initiation of Oocyte and Follicular Growth2.7 Granulosa Cell-Oocyte Communication During Oocyte and Follicular Growth; 2.8 Granulosa Cell-Oocyte Communication During Meiotic Maturation; 2.9 Newly Identified Pathways of Granulosa Cell-Oocyte Communication; 2.10 Conclusion; References; Chapter 3: Transovarial Transmission of Symbionts in Insects; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Localization of Transovarially Transmitted Symbionts in the Insect Body; 3.3 Modes of Transovarial Transmission of Mycetomic Symbionts

3.3.1 Infestation of Embryos in Viviparous Aphids3.3.2 Infestation of Undifferentiated Germ Cells (Cystocytes) and Young Oocytes; 3.3.3 Modes of Infestation of the Older Oocytes; 3.4 Future Perspectives; 3.5 Conclusions; References; Part II: Oocyte Polarity: Molecular and Organellar Aspects and Developmental Consequences; Chapter 4: Acquisition of Oocyte Polarity; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Centrosome Assembly and Polarized Division; 4.3 Asymmetry in the Nucleus of Meiotic Cells; 4.4 Polarity Beyond the Nucleus; 4.4.1 Balbiani Body

4.4.2 Polarization Via Intrinsically Disordered or Unstructured Proteins4.4.3 Microtubule Cross-Linking and Oocyte Polarity; 4.5 Posttranscriptional Control of Patterning: Lessons from Drosophila; 4.5.1 Oskar; 4.5.2 Gurken; 4.6 Conclusion; References; Chapter 5: The Pole (Germ) Plasm in Insect Oocytes; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Morphology of Insect Ovarioles from a Phylogenetic Perspective; 5.3 The Origin and Assembly of Pole Plasm in Drosophila; 5.3.1 Pole Plasm Contains Specific Ribonucleoprotein Complexes; 5.3.2 oskar Is a Critical Player in Drosophila Pole Plasm Formation