Follicles were reconstituted from dissociated mouse fetal ovarian cells invitro

Early folliculogenesis involved in the interaction of germ cells and somati c cells is a complicated physiological event. Female germ cells are committ ed to differentiate into oocytes and finish complete development in the fun ctional units of follicles. Thus there will be great significance in basal research and practices to evaluate the possibility of ovarian cells to reco nstitute into follicles in vitro. In the present research, 12-16 dpc (days post coitum) mouse fetal ovarian cells were respectively isolated using col lagenase digestion and cultured in droplets in vitro. The results revealed that the fetal ovarian cells of 12-16 dpc appeared to form multiple cell ag gregates and tissue-like pieces in vitro. However, 12-13 dpc ovarian cells failed to form the follicles, 14-15 dpc ovarian cells were competent to for m a few follicle-like complexes. Furthermore many small typical follicles w ere reconstituted from 16 dpc ovarian cells in vitro. The results showed fo r the first time that mouse embryonic ovarian cells were able to form the f ollicles in vitro. It was a gradual progression for the female germ cells t o achieve the ability to induce somatic cells differentiation and reconstit ution into follicles, which may directly lead to the success in reorganizat ion and transplantation of genetically modified ovary in vitro.