Growth and Differentiation Factor-9 Supplementation Affects Viability and Morphology of Preantral Follicles in Equine Ovarian Fragments During Short-term in vitro Culture

• Published in: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 2019-01, Vol.62
• Main Authors: Marino, Polyana Carolina, Bizarro-Silva, Camila, Búfalo, Isabela, Rosa, Camila Oliveira, Gonçalves, Gustavo Romero, Lisboa, Livia Aires, Seneda, Marcelo Marcondes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assisted Reproduction; GDF-9; Mare
• ISSN: 1516-8913; 1678-4324
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-4324-2019180346

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate different concentrations of growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) on the development and maintenance of equine preantral follicle morphology during short-term in vitro culture. Ovaries (n=5) from five mares were collected from a local slaughterhouse and transported to the laboratory, where nine fragments (5x5x1mm) were procured from each ovary. One fragment from each was immediately fixed and submitted for histological analysis (control group; D0). The other eight fragments were cultured in situ for two (D2) or six (D6) days in MEM+ or MEM+ supplemented with GDF-9 at different concentrations (i.e., 50, 100 and 200 ng/mL the GDF-9). After culturing with different concentrations of GDF-9 for 2 or 6 days, the fragments were processed for histological analysis. After two days of cultivation, we observed an increase in the percentage of developing follicles for 0 (MEM+), 50, 100 and 200 ng/mL GDF-9 compared to control (D0; P