Dynamic medium containing growth differentiation factor-9 and FSH maintains survival and promotes in vitro growth of caprine preantral follicles after long-term in vitro culture

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) and FSH on the in vitro development of caprine preantral follicles cultured for 16 days. Ovarian fragments were cultured in αMEM+ (α-minimum essential medium, pH 7.2–7.4, 10 μg mL–1 insulin, 5.5 μg mL–1 transferrin, 5.0 ng mL–1 selenium, 2 mM glutamine, 2 mM hypoxanthine and 1.25 mg mL–1 bovine serum albumin) in the absence or presence of 200 ng mL–1 GDF-9 and/or 50 ng mL–1 FSH added during the first (Days 0–8) and/or second (Days 8–16) half of the culture period. Non-cultured and cultured fragments were processed for histological and ultrastructural analyses. After 16 days, all treatments using GDF-9 or FSH showed higher rates of follicular survival compared with αMEM+ alone. Compared with non-cultured control, sequential culture media containing GDF-9 and/or FSH significantly increased the percentage of developing follicles and follicle diameter. Moreover, a progressive increase in oocyte diameter was observed only with sequential culture medium containing GDF-9 until Day 8 followed by FSH (GDF-9/FSH) in the second half of the culture period. After 16 days of culture, ultrastructural analysis confirmed the integrity of follicles cultured in the presence of GDF-9/FSH. In conclusion, a dynamic medium containing GDF-9 and FSH (GDF-9/FSH) maintained follicular integrity and promoted activation of primordial follicles and growth during long-term in vitro culture of goat preantral follicles.