Abstract Bovine embryo in vitro production is an efficient approach to provide embryos for embryo transfer industry and it includes three procedures, in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization(IVF) and in vitro culture. The qualities of embryos derived from IVF play an important role in successful rate of embryo transfer and live calves. Many researches reported that cumulus cells secret many important factors, such as steroids hormone and cell growth factors, contributed greatly to bovine oocytes in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture of fertilized oocytes. The current paper reviews recent advances about the effect of cumulus cells on bovine embryos produced by IVF, in which the effect of cumulus cells on oocyte in vitro maturation, the secreting function, quality, and cocultural system of cumulus cells on efficiency of IVF are highlighted and discussed.
