Esther Ndungo endun05@stlawu.edu
 x6041
Toyin Showole oshowo50@stlawu.edu
x6279
Faculty Advisor:  Dr Karin Bodensteiner

Poster Presentation

Only a relatively small number of follicles in the ovary are ovulated and made available for in vivo fertilization during the reproductive lifespan of an individual.  That means that there is a large pool of follicles that are untouched and can potentially be harvested and grown in vitro to expand the population of industrial beneficial livestock.  To date the only success with harvesting and maturing preantral follicles have been with small laboratory animals.  Because the follicles being used are collected at earlier stages of development, they are required to be in culture for a relatively long period to complete embryogenesis.  Most researchers have found that it is very hard to maintain the spherical integrity of the follicle because once the basement membrane is disrupted  the cells surrounding the ooycte migrate and release the oocyte.  In the absence of the oocyte the follicular component degenerates. The follicle is characterized by an oocyte surrounded by layers of granulosa cells and basement membrane, which gives the follicle its shape and keeps the oocyte from migrating away.  Our hypothesis is that the basement membrane is important for follicular growth because it maintains the spherical integrity of the follicle, keeping the oocyte intact and allowing the follicle to grow into maturity. Without the basement membrane the cultured follicle will deteriorate and not mature.