Ultrastructural features of atretic ovarian follicles in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

The process of follicular development and features of morphological changes are essential to understand the factors involved during folliculogenesis and to improve fertility in buffalo. Hence the objective of the present study was to report ultrastructural features of atretic ovarian follicles in buffalo. In the early stage of atresia, the involvement of mitochondria was observed and whereas in the later stages of atresia, involvement of macrophages were observed. The granulosa cells of buffalo atretic tertiary follicles were observed to contain undulation of the nuclear membrane, crescent formation of the pyknotic nuclei and loopiness and undulations of the basal lamina. These features are similar to the reports in other species. The involvement of mitochondria in the early stage of atresia suggested the probable role of a reactive oxygen free radical induced damage.

In vitro Culture of Early Secondary Preantral Follicles to Obtain MII Oocyte Developmental Competence from CD-1 Outbred Mice

“…These processes of isolation and in vitro culture of follicles were carried out after the administration of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and collection of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), which mimic the routine procedure for patients with ovarian disorder at the clinic (Ernest et al, 2001;Nakagawa et al, 2005). Thus, it might implicate that the ovary biopsy followed by in vitro culture of preantral follicles can be an alternative and spare strategy for future fertility preservation for females with oocyte retrieval failure due to various ovarian disorders and this method might also be applicable for maintenance of endangered species or the superior quality of the livestock (Sasan et al, 2015;Sreejalekshmi et al, 2016;Raj et al, 2018). Of note, the total numbers of the early and late secondary preantral follicles isolated from the ovaries were significantly higher compared to that of primary follicles suggesting the early and late secondary preantral follicles as good sources for further investigations on in vitro ovarian follicle culture in this study.…”