Defining the importance of DNA break repair for oocyte maintenance and survival

This thesis examines how oocytes/eggs and granulosa cells surrounding these eggs in females repair everyday damage to their DNA using mice model. Oocytes are formed before birth and must survive for many years to support fertility. The study focuses on two key DNA repair proteins, XRCC1 and XRCC5, and shows that repairing DNA breaks is essential for maintaining healthy oocytes. When these repair pathways are disrupted, oocyte survival is compromised and DNA damage accumulates. These findings improve our understanding of female fertility and may help guide future strategies to protect egg quality during ovarian ageing or medical treatments such as chemotherapy.