Growth of anuran oocytes in serum-supplemented medium

Appropriately-sized oocytes from Xenopus laevis can be grown in vitro in vitellogenin-containing serum for up to 2 weeks. The source of serum appears to be unimportant. Rates of oocyte growth are somewhat better than those achieved in the presence of vitellogenin alone. Rana pipiens oocytes grow about twice as fast as X. laevis oocytes under identical conditions. The oocyte culture conditions described appear to be applicable to amphibian oocytes in general.