Modelling and optimization of meiotic cell division of Xenopus oocytes

Abstract Progesterone induces the first meiotic cell division (maturation) of Xenopus laevis full-grown oocytes. It has been shown that progesterone efficiency for inducing maturation was dependent on the amount of available steroid per oocyte rather than on the initial progesterone concentration. In this paper we develop a model for progesterone induction of maturation, taking into account both initial progesterone concentration and available hormone per oocyte. Furthermore, we propose a nonlinear compartmental model for the kinetics of oocyte maturation.