An in vitro Comparative Study of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Activin A Effects on the Maturation of Preantral Follicle-Enclosed Oocytes from Immature Syrian Mice

Authors
Aisha Javed
Amer Jamil
Saeed Rezaei-Zarchi
Seyed Mehdi Kalantar
Morteza Anvari
Habib Nazem
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Abstract
Objectives: It was aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and activin A on the growth and maturation of preantral mouse follicles during the in vitro culture. Methods: Preantral follicles (90-100 µm in diameter) were harvested from 6-8 week-old Syrian mice and cultured in TCM199 culture medium for 6 days to see the effect of FSH and Activin A. Activin A concentrations in the range of 10-200 ng/ml were used, while 10, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mIU/ml FSH were used in the experiment. Results: Activin A concentration of 100 ng/ml resulted in a significant increase in follicle diameter (170 µm) with the survival rate of 73% as compared to the control (100 µm and 25%, P<0.05). The number of oocytes matured and the percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was 61 and 70%, respectively as compared to the control (20 and 29%, P<0.05). Follicle diameter (190 µm) and survival rate (85%) increased significantly in the presence of 100 mIU/ml of FSH as compared to the control (P<0.05). But, the administration of activin A+FSH increased the effect of both factors on follicular diameter (205 µm as compared to 100 µm in control, P<0.01). Follicle survival, oocyte maturation and GVBD rates were 91, 81 and 89%, respectively (P<0.01). Conclusion: These results have suggested that exposure to FSH and activin A before the formation of antral cavity had positive effect on follicle survival and oocyte robustness.
Keywords
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Oocyte Maturation
Follicle
Activin A
Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD)