title: Ultrastructure of Sheep Primordial Follicles Cultured in the Presence of Indol Acetic Acid, EGF, and FSH.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural characteristics of primordial follicles after culturing of sheep ovarian cortical slices in the presence of indol acetic acid (IAA), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), and FSH. To evaluate ultrastructure of primordial follicles cultured in MEM (control) or in MEM containing IAA, EGF, and FSH, fragments of cultured tissue were processes for transmission electron microscopy. Except in the control, primordial follicles cultured in supplemented media for 6 d were ultrastructurally normal. They had oocyte with intact nucleus and the cytoplasm contained heterogeneous-sized lipid droplets and numerous round or elongated mitochondria with intact parallel cristae were observed. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was rarely found. The granulosa cells cytoplasm contained a great number of mitochondria and abundant RER. In conclusion, the presence of IAA, EGF, and FSH helped to maintain ultrastructural integrity of sheep primordial follicles cultured in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina, DCV-CCA-UEL, 86051-990, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evelyn Rabelo
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maddox-Hyttel
authors.forename: Fernanda Da Cruz
authors.initials: Fda C
authors.lastname: Landim-Alvarenga
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Viana Silva
authors.forename: Amauri Alcindo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: Marcelo Marcondes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Seneda
authors.forename: José Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toniolli