The dictyate or dictyotene[1] is a prolonged resting phase in oogenesis. It occurs in the stage of meioticprophase I[2] in ootidogenesis. It starts late in fetal life[2] and is terminated shortly before ovulation by the LH surge.[3] Thus, although the majority of oocytes are produced in female fetuses before birth, these pre-eggs remain arrested in the dictyate stage until puberty commences and the cells complete ootidogenesis.
In both mouse and human, oocyte DNA of older individuals has substantially more double-strand breaks than that of younger individuals.[4]
The dictyate appears to be an adaptation for efficiently removing damages in germ line DNA by homologous recombinational repair.[5] Prophase arrested oocytes have a high capability for efficient repair of DNA damages.[5] DNA repair capability appears to be a key quality control mechanism in the female germ line and a critical determinant of fertility.[5]