Development and characterization of an in vitro ovulation model using mouse ovarian follicles

To investigate ovulation, an in vitro model with cultured mouse follicles was developed and compared with an in vivo ovulation model. In this model, secondary follicles were grown in vitro with immature mouse serum (5%) and recombinant human FSH. Addition of ascorbic acid and selenium to the medium increased follicular survival (from 29% to 86%) and resulted in the development of healthy preovulatory follicles (> 400 microm) producing estradiol. Depending on the starting size of the follicles, the preovulatory stage was reached after 4-6 days. The ovulatory response to hCG was maximal in follicles exceeding a diameter of 400 microm. The in vitro-ovulated oocytes could be fertilized and were able to develop to the blastocyst stage. Ovulation induced by hCG was dose dependent, reaching a maximum of 80% at 1 IU/ml. Concomitantly, progesterone production increased from 3.6 +/- 0.5 to 29 +/- 2 ng/ml. Both in vivo and in vitro, hCG induced expression of the progesterone receptor and the prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGS-2) gene within 3 h. Ovulation could be completely blocked with the anti-progestogen Org-31710 and partially (50%) with the PGS inhibitor indomethacin in vitro and in vivo. Org-31710 and indomethacin did not affect progesterone production. In summary, a physiologically relevant in vitro ovulation model of cultured mouse follicles that can be used to study the process of follicular rupture has been developed.