The earliest stages of folliculogenesis in vitro

In recent years several follicle culture systems have been pioneered in different mammalian species for studying ovarian folliculogenesis and culturing immature oocytes. Applications of these in vitro techniques include fertility preservation for humans, conservation of rare animals and development of oocyte banks for research purposes. Immature female gametes in the ovarian cortex can be cryopreserved for later use if culture techniques are available afterwards to promote growth and maturation. This review focuses on biochemical and biophysical factors related to oocyte culture in mice, the only animal in which live offspring have been produced after folliculogenesis in vitro. The advantage of using mice for these studies is that, in parallel to development of follicle culture systems, essential knowledge on folliculogenesis can be obtained from knockout mouse models. Recent experiments in mice stressed the principal role of the oocyte in follicle development and the strict timing of the biological processes underlying oogenesis in vitro. In large domestic animals and humans, study of oocyte culture is confounded by the constitutively prolonged nature of ovarian follicle development. In humans, only some aspects of follicle development have been studied because of the limited availability of suitable material for experimentation, technical difficulties related to manipulation of very small structures and lack of knowledge on physiological regulation of the early stages of follicle growth. Only a few reports describe ovarian follicular growth in vitro. In this review, relevant information on hormonal and growth factor regulation of the earliest stages of follicle growth in mammals is reviewed. Techniques are becoming available for the precise isolation of distinct classes of follicle and powerful molecular biology techniques can be used in studies of ovarian tissue culture.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Dong Zhang, H. Fouad, W. D. Zoma, S. A. Salama, M. J. Wentz, and A. Al-Hendy Expression of Stem and Germ Cell Markers Within Nonfollicle Structures in Adult Mouse Ovary Reproductive Sciences, February 1, 2008; 15(2): 139 - 146. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. Shen, L. Li, Z. Bai, Q. Pan, M. Ding, and H. Deng In vitro development of mouse fetal germ cells into mature oocytes Reproduction, August 1, 2007; 134(2): 223 - 231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-M. Dolmans, B. Martinez-Madrid, E. Gadisseux, Y. Guiot, W. Y. Yuan, A. Torre, A. Camboni, A. Van Langendonckt, and J. Donnez Short-term transplantation of isolated human ovarian follicles and cortical tissue into nude mice Reproduction, August 1, 2007; 134(2): 253 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Oktem and K. Oktay The Role of Extracellular Matrix and Activin-A in In Vitro Growth and Survival of Murine Preantral Follicles Reproductive Sciences, May 1, 2007; 14(4): 358 - 366. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P M. Lokman, K. A N George, S. L Divers, M. Algie, and G. Young 11-Ketotestosterone and IGF-I increase the size of previtellogenic oocytes from shortfinned eel, Anguilla australis, in vitro Reproduction, May 1, 2007; 133(5): 955 - 967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Sleer and C. C. Taylor Cell-Type Localization of Platelet-Derived Growth Factors and Receptors in the Postnatal Rat Ovary and Follicle Biol Reprod, March 1, 2007; 76(3): 379 - 390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Pesty, F. Miyara, P. Debey, B. Lefevre, and C. Poirot Multiparameter assessment of mouse oogenesis during follicular growth in vitro Mol. Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2007; 13(1): 3 - 9. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Xu, E. West, L. D. Shea, and T. K. Woodruff Identification of a Stage-Specific Permissive In Vitro Culture Environment for Follicle Growth and Oocyte Development Biol Reprod, December 1, 2006; 75(6): 916 - 923. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Miller, R. K. Gupta, and J. A. Flaws Methoxychlor Metabolites May Cause Ovarian Toxicity Through Estrogen-Regulated Pathways Toxicol. Sci., September 1, 2006; 93(1): 180 - 188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Donnez, B. Martinez-Madrid, P. Jadoul, A. Van Langendonckt, D. Demylle, and M.-M. Dolmans Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation: a review Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2006; 12(5): 519 - 535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-M. Dolmans, N. Michaux, A. Camboni, B. Martinez-Madrid, A. Van Langendonckt, S. Annarita Nottola, and J. Donnez Evaluation of Liberase, a purified enzyme blend, for the isolation of human primordial and primary ovarian follicles Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2006; 21(2): 413 - 420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Miller, R. K. Gupta, C. R. Greenfeld, J. K. Babus, and J. A. Flaws Methoxychlor Directly Affects Ovarian Antral Follicle Growth and Atresia through Bcl-2- and Bax-Mediated Pathways Toxicol. Sci., November 1, 2005; 88(1): 213 - 221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Kreeger, N. N. Fernandes, T. K. Woodruff, and L. D. Shea Regulation of Mouse Follicle Development by Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in a Three-Dimensional In Vitro Culture System Is Dependent on Follicle Stage and Dose Biol Reprod, November 1, 2005; 73(5): 942 - 950. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Demeestere, J Centner, C Gervy, Y Englert, and A Delbaere Impact of various endocrine and paracrine factors on in vitro culture of preantral follicles in rodents Reproduction, August 1, 2005; 130(2): 147 - 156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Schubert, M. Canis, C. Darcha, C. Artonne, J.-L. Pouly, P. Dechelotte, D. Boucher, and G. Grizard Human ovarian tissue from cortex surrounding benign cysts: a model to study ovarian tissue cryopreservation Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2005; 20(7): 1786 - 1792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Lenie, R. Cortvrindt, T. Adriaenssens, and J. Smitz A Reproducible Two-Step Culture System for Isolated Primary Mouse Ovarian Follicles as Single Functional Units Biol Reprod, November 1, 2004; 71(5): 1730 - 1738. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Willard, E. F. Ozdowski, N. A. Jones, and C. Cronmiller stall-Mediated Extrinsic Control of Ovarian Follicle Formation in Drosophila Genetics, September 1, 2004; 168(1): 191 - 198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G Wycherley, D Downey, M T Kane, and A C Hynes A novel follicle culture system markedly increases follicle volume, cell number and oestradiol secretion Reproduction, June 1, 2004; 127(6): 669 - 677. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Oktay and M. Sonmezer Ovarian tissue banking for cancer patients: Fertility preservation, not just ovarian cryopreservation Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2004; 19(3): 477 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Schmidt, C. E. Ovitt, K. Anlag, S. Fehsenfeld, L. Gredsted, A.-C. Treier, and M. Treier The murine winged-helix transcription factor Foxl2 is required for granulosa cell differentiation and ovary maintenance Development, February 15, 2004; 131(4): 933 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Webb, P. C. Garnsworthy, J.-G. Gong, and D. G. Armstrong Control of follicular growth: Local interactions and nutritional influences J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(13_suppl): E63 - 74. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]