title: Use of ovary culture techniques in reproductive toxicology.
abstract: There is increasing evidence to indicate that a substantial number of both man-made and naturally occurring chemicals are disruptive to human and wildlife reproductive health. Currently, reproductive toxicology testing is primarily carried out in vivo, however, in the past 50 years, various culture methods have been developed with the aim of growing ovarian follicles in vitro. These culture systems have become a widely used tool in reproductive biology and toxicology. In this review we describe how reproductive toxicology of the ovary is greatly enhanced by in vitro studies. Experiments using in vitro ovarian cultures to understand or detect damage to the ovary itself and to its specialised structures of the follicles and oocytes, allows for faster screening of potential developmental and/or reproductive toxicants.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefansdottir
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Powles-Glover
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: norah.spears@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spears
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
keywords: EDC; Follicle; In vitro; Ovary; Pharmaceutical; Tissue culture; Toxicology