title: GDF-9 and bFGF enhance the effect of FSH on the survival, activation, and growth of cattle primordial follicles.
abstract: This study aims to investigate the effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in combination with growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the activation, survival and growth of cattle primordial follicles. Ovarian tissues were cultured for 3, 7, 14, 22 days in α minimum essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with FSH, FSH+GDF-9 or FSH+bFGF. Non-cultured and cultured ovarian fragments were processed for histological and TUNEL analysis. Compared to the FSH medium, the results showed FSH+GDF-9 medium increased the percentage of primary follicles in all culture periods and secondary follicles after 14 days of culture (P<0.05), meanwhile the diameter of primary and secondary follicles were also observed to increase in this medium after 7 days of cultures (P<0.05). FSH+bFGF medium appeared to increase the percentage of primary follicles after 14 days of culture and secondary follicles at day 14 of culture than FSH medium (P<0.05). Furthermore, the FSH+GDF-9 and FSH+bFGF mediums had a greater percentage of normal follicles, and lesser apoptotic cell rates than FSH medium. The results first indicated that FSH in combination with GDF-9 or bFGF can improve the survival, activation, and growth of cattle primordial follicles after the long-term culture of ovarian cortex.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory under Education Ministry of China for Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: KeQiong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wu-Cai
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Can-Jie
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Li-Guo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone