Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Bovine Ovarian Cortex Tissue Culture
Published on: January 14, 2021
Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on in vitro development of human ovarian primordial follicles
Roni Garor1, Ronit Abir, Arye Erman
1Infertility and IVF Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Objective:
To evaluate whether basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) benefits the in vitro development of human primordial follicles.
Design:
Human ovarian tissue was placed in organ culture for 4 weeks with basic FGF and either fetal calf serum or a serum-free combination. Control groups were cultured with a neutralizing antibody against basic FGF.
Setting:
Major tertiary care and referral academic centers.
Patient(S):
Fourteen women/girls undergoing various gynecological operations and two fetuses from women undergoing pregnancy terminations.
Intervention(S):
None.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Follicular counts, immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and measurement of 17beta E(2) production.
Result(S):
Only in the serum-free culture system was the number of developing follicles in samples cultured with basic FGF significantly higher than in uncultured specimens. The E(2) production increased significantly in the second week, and there was a significant reduction in E(2) secretion with the addition of the neutralizing antibody against basic FGF. The percentage of granulosa cells (GCs) that stained for proliferating cell nuclear antigen or bromodeoxyuridine was significantly higher in developing follicles than in primordial follicles, regardless of treatment.
Conclusion(S):
Basic FGF apparently plays a role in the E(2) production of early follicles. High doses of basic FGF enhanced follicular development in serum-free media.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Folliculogenesis
01:22Oogenesis
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...