The present study investigated whether supplementation with different doses of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) of prepubertal ovine oocytes influenced their embryonic development in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from the ovaries of slaughtered prepubertal sheep underwent IVM with CeO(2)NPs (0, 44, 88 or 220 mu g mL(-1)). Matured oocytes were fertilised in vitro and zygotes were cultured for 7 days. The results demonstrated that CeO(2)NPs were internalised in the cumulus cells and not in the oocyte. The treatment with CeO(2)NPs did not affect nuclear maturation or intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species of the oocytes. The percentage of oocytes with regular chromatin configuration and cytoskeleton structures when treated with 44 mu g mL(-1) CeO(2)NPs was similar to oocytes matured in the absence of CeO(2)NPs and significantly higher than those treated with 88 or 220 mu g mL(-1) CeO(2)NPs. The relative quantification of transcripts in the cumulus cells of oocytes matured with 44 mu g mL(-1) CeO(2)NPs showed a statistically lower mRNA abundance of BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) compared with the 0 mu g mL(-1) CeO2 NPs group. A concentration of 44 mu g mL(-1) CeO(2)NPs significantly increased the blastocyst yield and their total, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell numbers, compared with the 0 and 220 mu g mL(-1) groups. A low concentration of CeO(2)NPs in the maturation medium enhanced in vitro embryo production of prepubertal ovine oocytes.