This study used Real-Time PCR technique to quantitatively analyze the expression of the maternal mRNA(Mater,Zar1,Dnmt1 and GDF9) in growth-maturation-aging process of ovine oocytes and investigated the effect of caffeine,DTT and vanadate on the level of maternal mRNA in aged oocytes,respectively.The results showed that the expression of GDF9,Mater and Zar1 decreased gradually from germinal vesicle phase to MⅡ phase,while the expression of Dnmt1 decreased gradually from 12 h of maturation culture.The level of all above maternal mRNAs was the lowest at MⅡ phase and increased with aging.The expression of Mater,Dnmt1 and GDF9 in caffeine treated-or DTT-treated aged oocytes was lower than that of aged oocytes(P < 0.05),but not different from that of matured oocytes(P > 0.05).The expression of Mater,Zar1,Dnmt1,and GDF9 in vanadate-treated oocytes was the highest and significantly higher than that of MII group except for Zar1(P < 0.05).Conclusion: the level of Mater,Zar1,Dnmt1,and GDF9 is in contrast with oocytes quality.Both caffeine and DTT delay aging progression to some extent and improve the oocyte quality.On the contrary,vanadate accelerates aging progression.