English

Alternative forms

• oötid

Noun

ootid ‎(plural ootids)

1. (biology) The haploid cell, produced by meiotic division of a secondary oocyte, that is a nearly mature ovum.
   • 1972, P. R. Gross, L. I. Malkin, M. Hubbard, Synthesis of RNA During Oogenesis of the Sea Urchin, Meredith C. Gould (editor), Invertebrate Oogenesis II, page 37,

     Beyond the last of the oocytes, toward the lumen, are found numerous closely packed ootids, which have small pronuclei and are less basophilic than the smaller oocytes, due to the accumulated yolk in the cytoplasm.

   • 1990, P. Guerrier, I. Néant, P. Colas, L. Dufresne, J. Saint Pierre, F. Dubé, Chapter 6: Protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation as regulators of MPF activity, Brian Dale (editor), Mechanism of Fertilization: Plants to Humans, page 85,

     This process, which now requires 45 min instead of the 20 min needed after hormone stimulation or MPF transfer does not correspond to the amplification of an eventual residual MPF present in the ootid.

   • 1991, Richard E. Jones, Human Reproductive Biology, page 181,

     The haploid ovum is now called an ootid (Fig. 8—7). The second polar body degenerates, sometimes dividing before it dies.

   • 2004, Carlo Bulletti, D. de Ziegler, Carlo Flamigni, The Uterus and Human Reproduction, page 107,

     It is difficult to predict at this stage whether the cryopreservation of ootids will be allowed in Italy.

Related terms

• ootidogenisis

See also

• oocyte
• oogonium
• ovum
• spermatid