title: Recombinant epidermal growth factor maintains follicular ultrastructure and promotes the transition to primary follicles in caprine ovarian tissue cultured in vitro.
abstract: We investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor on the survival and growth of caprine preantral follicles. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 and 7 days in enriched minimal essential medium with epidermal growth factor (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, or 200 ng/mL). Non-cultured and cultured tissues were processed for histological and ultrastructural studies. Results showed that after 7 days, the epidermal growth factor (1 and 10 ng/mL) maintained the percentage of normal follicles similar to control. An increase in the percentage of primary follicles was observed with 1, 10, and 50 ng/mL of epidermal growth factor compared to enriched minimal essential medium. Ultrastructural studies confirmed follicular integrity after 7 days in epidermal growth factor (1 and 10 ng/mL). In conclusion, the low concentrations of epidermal growth factor maintain caprine follicular viability and promote the transition from primordial to primary follicles.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LAMOFOPA, PPGCV, State University of Ceara, Fortaleza-CE Brazil. juliana_jales@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: J J H
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Celestino
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Lima-Verde
authors.forename: M H T
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: M V A
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: K P O
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Name
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Campello
authors.forename: J R V
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Báo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor