[Development of human fetal preantral follicles in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To study oocyte maturation of human fetal preantral follicles in vitro, the effects of different factors on oocyte maturation.


METHODS
Preantral follicles were obtained from fetal ovaries from termination of 20-28 weeks gestation. Factors involved in the development, maturation of fetal preantral follicles were studied in tissue and cell culture by means of Northern blot, and RT-PCR (nested).


RESULTS
(1) Preantral follicles obtained from fetal ovary increased in size to more than 120 microns in diameter without antrum formation and with increasing time the preantral oocytes became mature with extrusion of 1st polar body, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) had a more marked effect on oocyte maturation, as compared with epidermal growth factor (EGF). (2) Expression of alpha fetoprotein mRNA occurred in fetal follicles on day 5, 15, 25, 35 of culture, and became negative on day 45 of culture. (3) Medium consisted of 1. human menopasual gonadotropin (hMG), 2. follicular fluid, 3. IGF-1, 4. EGF increased the expression of bcl-2 mRNA by 17.6%, 22.4%, 47.1% and 37.5% respectively in fetal follicular cells, and down-regulated the expression of p53 mRNA by 19.8%, 22.1%, 42.6% and 31.6% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) The development and maturation of fetal preantral follicles in vitro differed from those in vivo. (2) Expression of bcl-2 mRNA increased and expression of wild-type p53 mRNA decreased during follicular development and maturation.
Wu
J
J
Third Clinical Medical College, Beijing Medical University.
Zhang
L
L
Liu
P
P
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D008596:Menotropins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D008596:Menotropins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I