Intact small antral follicles (SAF) from rhesus monkeys: oocyte maturation and hormone production in vitro

PELUFFO, MC; STOUFFER, RL; HENNEBOLD, JD; ZELINSKI, MB

Chicago, IL

Conferencia; Fifth Annual Oncofertility Consortium Meeting; 2011

Oncofertiluty Consortium

The small antral follicles (SAF) from the ovarian medulla can be a potential source of oocytes for infertility patients, but little is known about their ability to yield mature oocytes. Oocyte nuclear maturation and hormone production (estradiol [E2], progesterone [P4]), antimullerian hormone [AMH]) by individual intact SAF (>0.5 mm; n=91 from n=5 adult macaques) was evaluated after 34 hr of culture in the absence (control) or presence of hCG. Of the total cohort, 51% of SAFs contained vacuolated or dead oocytes. The percentage of healthy metaphase I (MI, 32%) and metaphase II (MII, 32%) oocytes was greater (p<0.05) after hCG compared to controls (11% and 15%, respectively). E2, P4 and AMH (p<0.05) levels were higher (p<0.05) in SAF cultures containing germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes compared to those with MII oocytes. SAF with MI oocytes produced more (p<0.05) E2, but less (p<0.05) P4 and AMH compared to SAF containing GV oocytes.  Follicles ¡Ý1mm produced more (p<0.05) E2, whereas follicle diameter did not correlate with P4 or AMH levels. P4 alone increased (p<0.05) in response to hCG, regardless of follicle size or oocyte maturity. These data indicate, for the first time in primates, that oocytes within SAF reinitiate meiosis in the absence of hCG, but the rate of nuclear maturation is enhanced in SAF cultured with hCG. Furthermore, oocyte nuclear maturation within SAFs in vitro is associated with decreased E2, P4 and AMH levels.  Oncofertility Consortium NIH 1UL1-RR024926 (R01-HD058294, PL1-EB008542), RR000163, U54-HD55744, Lalor Foundation (MCP).