This study evaluated the effect of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the formation of antral follicle-like structures (AFLSs) and on the meiotic status of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) embedded in collagen gel. Supplementation with dbcAMP increased the mean diameter of AFLSs during days 4-8 of culture compared with that of control COCs, irrespective of the concentration of dbcAMP used (0.5-2.0 mM). When the embedded COCs were cultured for 8 days with hCG, the diameters of AFLSs after 4 days of culture tended to be lower in the supplemented COCs than in the control COCs without hCG, irrespective of the concentration used (1-100 IU/mL). Supplementation with 10 IU/mL hCG increased the concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone but not progesterone and oestradiol in the culture medium after 4 days of culture. Almost all oocytes collected from AFLSs had resumed meiosis by the end of culture, irrespective of supplementation of dbcAMP and hCG. These results indicate that although dbcAMP had a positive effect on AFLS formation and development, supplementation with hCG was detrimental. Moreover, hCG supplementation did not influence the luteinisation of granulosa cells in the AFLS for 4 days after the start of culture.Key words: Antrum-like structures, cAMP, cumulus cells, gap junction, follicular formation Three-dimensional (3-D) culture of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) may provide a valuable approach for studying the regulation of follicular development. When the 3-D organisation of cumulus granulosa cells around the oocyte was maintained during oocyte culture, COCs formed an antral follicle-like structure (AFLS) and grew in vitro (Harada et al., 1997). The formation of an AFLS is dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of cumulus granulosa