Abstract: Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of Ser/Thr protein kinases commonly distributed in eukaryotic cells. It plays a pivotal role in the regulation of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), chromatin condensation, spindle assembly and extrusion of the first polar body. Activity of PKC regulates GVBD, which characterizes the reinitiation of Meiosis Ⅰ. The activity of PKC rises gradually during the early maturation process and descends during the shift from metaphase to anaphase, which induces the extrusion of the first polar body and characterizes the finish of Meiosis Ⅰ and the transition to Meiosis Ⅱ. Here in this article, the recent advances of research in PKC in the process of Meiosis Ⅰ during mammalian oocyte maturation is reviewed.

Key words: protein kinase C; oocyte; maturation; the first meiosis 