The deterioration of oocyte quality with age is the main factor limiting the possibility of pregnancy in women over 35 years old. During the development of the oocyte through gap junctions, it is closely associated with cumulus cells and the metabolic state of the oocyte itself depends on their potential. The choice of cumulus cells as a model for assessing the reproductive potential of an oocyte is determined not only by their close functional relationship, but also by their convenience as a model: cumulus cells are extracted as a by-product in the process of oocyte collection during in vitro fertilization (IVF), after which they can be cultured in conditions typical for primary adherent cultures. In the process of maturation, the oocyte needs constant energy support; it cannot independently synthesize the amount of ATP that it needs for normal development, as well as independently metabolize some other substances. The transport of ions and small molecules is carried out through gap junctions connecting the oocyte with cumulus cells. This relationship plays a key role in the normal functioning of the oocyte. The presence of such a close connection makes special demands on the mitochondrial apparatus of cumulus cells. One of the reasons for the insufficiency of the cumulus cells-oocyte system may be the accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial DNA of cumulus cells, since mitochondria, apparently, do not contain such effective repair systems as the nuclear genome has, and mutations and damage accumulate in mtDNA over the course of life. caused both by errors of the own replication system and by external damaging agents. The presence of a base excisional repair system in mitochondria is fairly well known, but the question of the presence of analogues of systems for repairing double-strand breaks, repairing interstrand cross-links, and repair coupled with transcription remains open. The study of the energy status of cumulus cells helps to understand one of the causes of female infertility and determine its pathways. therapeutic correction. The mini-review highlights the state of the problem in terms of the quantity and quality of mitochondria in cumulus cells.