Gene expression in Rhesus Monkey Ovarian Small Antral Follicles Developed in vivo and in vitro. Macaca mulatta

Monkey preantral ovarian follicles can be cultured individually in a 3-dimensional scaffold. Follicles grow to the small antral stage with similar morphology and function, e.g. steroid hormone/local factor production and oocyte maturation, to those of small antral follicles developed in vivo during natural menstrual cycles. The goad of this study is to evaluate global gene expression in small antral follicles derived in vitro compared with those derived in vivo. The study will assess whether the culture system allows coordinated development of ovarian cells and oocytes similar to that in vivo, and if not, will help to define molecular/cellular functions that require further optimization in the 3-dimensional follicle culture. This in vitro follicle maturation technique may provide an option to obtain mature eggs for women facing fertility-threatening disease or treatment.