Mouse oocytes derived from in vitro grown primary ovarian follicles are fertile.
A model culture system has been developed whereby individual, primary ovarian mouse follicles can be grown in vitro to the Graafian stage in the normal physiological time course, and then ovulated in response to luteinizing hormone. We report here on the successful fertilization and subsequent embryo development of the oocytes from such follicles. This is the first time that oocytes from in-vitro matured whole follicles have been fertilized and shown to produce viable offspring in host animals. The study demonstrates that the culture system mimics physiological conditions for normal follicle development.
Spears
N
N
Department of Physiology, Edinburgh University Medical School, UK.
Boland
N I
NI
Murray
A A
AA
Gosden
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone