Background: The fibroblast growth factors (FGF-4) are a group of heparin-binding single chain polypeptides that play a pivotal role in development, cell growth, tissue repairing and transformation. The aim of this study is to improve development and maturation outcome of vitrified mouse pre-antral follicle by adding of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) into medium culture. Materials and Methods: P...

This study evaluated the levels of c-kit mRNA in goat follicles and the effects of kit ligand (KL) on the in vitro development of cultured preantral follicles. Preantral follicles isolated from goat ovarian cortex were cultured for 18 days in α-MEM(+) supplemented with KL (0, 50 or 100 ng/mL) in the absence or presence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Real-time PCR showed that c-kit mRNA ...

To examine the detailed composition of glycosaminoglycans during bovine ovarian follicular development and atresia, the specialized stromal theca layers were separated from the stratified epithelial granulosa cells of healthy (n=6) and atretic (n=6) follicles in each of three size ranges: small (3-5mm), medium (6-9mm) and large (10mm or more) (n=29 animals). Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate el...

DNA methylation reprogramming occurs during mammalian gametogenesis and embryogenesis. Sex-specific DNA methylation patterns at specific CpG islands controlling imprinted genes are acquired during this window of development. Characterization of the DNA methylation dynamics of imprinted genes acquired by oocytes during folliculogenesis is essential for understanding the physiological and genetic...

BACKGROUND In recent years concerns have been raised about human reproductive disorders, specially the effects of environmental factors on human fertility and pregnancy outcome. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the effects of maternal caffeine consumption on ovarian follicles development in rat offspring. METHODS 60 pregnant female rats were randomly divided into a control ...

In a sexually mature female, primordial follicles continuously leave the arrested pool and undergo the primordial to primary follicle transition. The oocytes increase in size and the surrounding squamous pre-granulosa cells become cuboidal and proliferate to form a layer of cuboidal cells around the growing oocyte. This development of the primordial follicle commits the follicle to undergo the ...

Background: Opioids may affect hypothalamic GnRH secretion and Hypothalamic-Pituitary- Gonad axis, resulting in reproductive disturbances. Current study investigates the effects of morphine on structure of ovary following superovulalion through morphologic/morphometric studies. Methods: Twelve young female NMRI mice were allocated into treatment and control groups. Treatment group received oral...

The ability of an oocyte to successfully mature is highly dependent on intrafollicular conditions, including the size and structure of the follicle. Here we present a mathematical model of oxygen transport in the antral follicle. We relate mean oxygen concentration in follicular fluid of bovine follicles to the concentration in the immediate vicinity of the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). The mod...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of inhibin A, inhibin B and estradiol (E(2)) and the number of developing follicles during the administration of exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in various regimens in normo-ovulatory volunteers and to evaluate if inhibins act as suitable markers for the number of developing follicles during ovarian stimulation....

background: the differential efficacy between long gnrh agonist with antagonist can partly be due to the preexisting differences in the early antral follicles before ovarian stimulation. objective: to compare the effect of pretreatment by estradiol with gnrh antagonist on antral follicular size coordination and basal hormone levels in gnrh antagonist protocol. materials and methods: on cycle da...