Heat stress can affect oocyte function during two distinct
periods of oocyte development. The first is the period of follicular
growth, when the oocyte experiences activation and
then silencing of the genome, establishes communication
with cumulus cells, and synthesizes cortical granules.9 The
second period is following ovulation when the oocyte
undergoes nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in preparation
for fertilization and embryonic development.