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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
In Vitro Growth of Mouse Preantral Follicles Under Simulated Microgravity
Published on: December 17, 2017
Influence of thyroid hormone on mouse preantral follicle development in vitro
Sandra Cecconi1, Gianna Rossi, Giovanni Coticchio
1Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche-L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 10, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy. cecconi@univaq.it
Objective:
To evaluate the role of 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T(3)) on ovarian follicle development in vitro.
Design:
Experimental study.
Setting:
University reproductive biology unit.
Animal(S):
CD1 mice (female).
Intervention(S):
In vitro culture.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Assessment of follicle and oocyte development following a 6-day culture with FSH (100 mU/mL), (Bu)(2)cAMP (0.5 mM), and T(3) (1-100 nM), alone or in combination.
Result(S):
A high percentage of in vitro grown (IVG) FSH-stimulated follicles formed an antral cavity (AC), while the addition of T(3) (100 nM) significantly reduced this response in a statistically significant manner. A statistically significant recovery of AC formation was obtained by limiting exposure to 4 days of culture. Formation of AC was induced by (Bu)(2)cAMP, which prevented T(3)-mediated suppression of AC formation. Under different conditions, high proportions of germinal vesicle-arrested IVG oocytes displayed condensed chromatin configuration. The capacity to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was similar in all groups, and a statistically significant reduction in the percentage of oocytes with PB1 was recorded when T(3) was added to FSH or (Bu)(2)cAMP. This ability was partially recovered by removing T(3) on day 4 of culture.
Conclusion(S):
Exposure to high T(3) concentrations can impair preantral follicle development, but this effect can be partly reverted by restoring a physiological hormonal milieu before follicle commitment to antral development.
