title: Intact follicle culture: what it can tell us about the roles of FSH glycoforms during follicle development.
abstract: An important limiting factor in assisted reproduction treatment success rates is oocyte quality. In spite of improved results through several important innovations, the pregnancy rate per collected oocyte remains far too low. In order to improve this situation, it is necessary to learn more about fundamental factors modulating follicular development patterns. FSH is known to be the driving force for follicle development, but it is not yet understood how its multifarious functions are controlled and modulated. Evidence is accumulating that FSH glycoforms may be the key to this mystery. Intact follicle culture is a useful tool for the clarification of the actions of the different isoforms because the follicle unit is maintained and allowed to develop through several critical stages. Additionally important is the availability of the oocyte for functional evaluation. Because of these features, relationships can be uncovered that are not revealed with single cell test systems. The results so far obtained with this system suggest that follicle development pattern and oocyte quality is strongly influenced by FSH glycoform range, and that the requirements of the follicle may shift during progress through different stages of development. More studies are required, but these findings already suggest that the physiological shifts of circulating FSH glycoforms may indeed be important, and that attention should be paid to the glycoform distribution of exogenously applied FSH.
authors.affiliation: Gamete Biology Laboratory, Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Centre, Kellnerweg 4, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany. pnayudu@gwdg.de
authors.forename: Penelope L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Nayudu
authors.forename: Ursula A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Vitt
authors.forename: Jorgelina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barrios De Tomasi
authors.forename: Katti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pancharatna
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulloa-Aguirre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone