Xenopus laevishas been used for many decades to study oocyte development and maturation. TheXenopusoocytes’ large size, relative abundance, and clearly defined progression of physical characteristics from oogonia to eggs make them ideal for studying oogenesis. In addition, the ability of steroids to triggerXenopusoocyte maturation in vitro has resulted in their extensive use for the study of the complexities of meiosis. Interestingly, steroid-induced maturation ofXenopusoocytes occurs completely independent of transcription; thus, this process serves as one of the few biologically relevant models of nongenomic steroid-mediated signaling. Finally,Xenopusoocytes appear to play a critical role in ovarian steroidogenesis, suggesting that theXenopusovary may serve as a novel system for studying steroidogenesis. Evidence indicates that many of the features definingXenopus laevisoogenesis and maturation might also be occurring in mammals, further emphasizing the strength and relevance ofXenopus laevisas a model for ovarian development and function.
