The crucial role of mechanical heterogeneity in regulating follicle development and ovulation with engineered ovarian microtissue.

ABSTRACT: Contemporary systems for in vitro culture of ovarian follicles do not recapitulate the mechanical heterogeneity in mammalian ovary. Here we report microfluidic generation of biomimetic ovarian microtissue for miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) culture of early secondary preantral follicles by using alginate (harder) and collagen (softer) to fabricate the ovarian cortical and medullary tissues, respectively. This biomimetic configuration greatly facilitates follicle development to antral stage. Moreover, it enables in vitro ovulation of cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) from the antral follicles in the absence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) that are well accepted to be responsible for ovulation in contemporary literature. These data reveal the crucial role of mech

SUBMITTER: Choi JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4016819 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature