Leptin has been shown to exert positive effects during the maturation of bovine oocytes, influencing blastocyst development, apoptosis, and the transcript levels of developmentally important genes. The present study was conducted to characterize further the mechanisms of leptin action on oocytes and the role of cumulus cells (CCs) in this context. In the first series of experiments, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in serum-free medium that contained 0, 1 or 10 ng/ml leptin or in medium that was supplemented with 10% (v/v) estrus cow serum (ECS). Leptin concentrations of 1 and 10 ng/ml stimulated the meiotic progression of oocytes. Moreover, TUNEL staining demonstrated that these leptin doses reduced the proportion of apoptotic CCs. In the second series of experiments, COCs or denuded oocytes (DOs) were matured in the presence of 0 or 10 ng/ml leptin. The percentages of COCs and DOs with extruded polar bodies were increased by leptin. In contrast, positive effects of leptin on fertilization rates and blastocyst development were only observed after treatment of COCs but not of DOs. Leptin treatment of COCs consistently enhanced blastocyst development even after parthenogenetic activation of oocytes or after the removal of CCs before fertilization. The proportion of polyspermic oocytes was not affected by leptin treatment or oocyte denudation. In the third series of experiments, COCs were matured in the presence of 0, 1 or 10 ng/ml leptin. The transcript levels of specific genes were determined by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of cumulus cells and single oocytes. Leptin treatment increased the levels of FAS, FASLG, and STAT3 transcripts in oocytes, but did not affect the LEPR, BAX, and BIRC4 mRNA concentrations. In cumulus cells, leptin treatment increased the mRNA levels for LEPR, STAT3, BAX, BIRC4, and FAS, but did not alter FASLG mRNA abundance. In conclusion, leptin differentially regulates gene expression in oocytes and cumulus cells. Moreover, leptin enhances both oocyte maturation and developmental capacity via cumulus cell-independent and -dependent mechanisms.