In vitro grown sheep preantral follicles yield oocytes with normal nuclear-epigenetic maturation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Assisted reproductive technologies allow to utilize a limited number of fully grown oocytes despite the presence in the ovary of a large pool of meiotically incompetent gametes potentially able to produce live births. In vitro folliculogenesis could be useful to recruit these oocytes by promoting their growth and differentiation.

Methodology/principal findings

In vitro folliculogenesis was performed starting from sheep preantral (PA) follicles to evaluate oocyte nuclear/epigenetic maturation. Chromatin configuration, quantification of global DNA methylation, and epigenetic remodelling enzymes were evaluated with immunocytochemistry, telomere elongation was assessed with the Q-FISH technique, while the DNA methylation status at the DMRs of maternally IGF2R and BEGA

SUBMITTER: Barboni B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3221676 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature