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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Isolation of Small Preantral Follicles from the Bovine Ovary Using a Combination of Fragmentation, Homogenization, and Serial Filtration
Published on: September 27, 2022
Germ-Somatic Cell Interactions Are Involved in Establishing the Follicle Reserve in Mammals
Patrícia Rodrigues1,2, Darlene Limback3, Lynda McGinnis4
1Centro Médico de Assistência à Reprodução (CEMEARE), Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract:
Mammalian females are born with a finite reserve of ovarian follicles, the functional units of the ovary. Building an ovarian follicle involves a complex interaction between multiple cell types, of which the oocyte germ cell and the somatic granulosa cells play a major role. Germ-somatic cell interactions are modulated by factors of different cell origins that influence ovarian development. In early development, failure in correct germ-somatic cell communication can cause abnormalities in ovarian development. These abnormalities can lead to deficient oocyte differentiation, to a diminished ovarian follicle reserve, and consequently to early loss of fertility. However, oocyte-granulosa cell communication is also extremely important for the acquisition of oocyte competence until ovulation. In this paper, we will visit the establishment of follicle reserve, with particular emphasis in germ-somatic cell interactions, and their importance for human fertility.
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