Abstract
To investigate the development of follicles and incidence of apoptosis in vitrified cultured mouse ovaries in the presence and absence of Kit ligand, 1-week-old mouse ovaries were cultured in the presence or absence of Kit ligand for 7 days. Development and function of ovarian follicles was evaluated by histology and hormonal analysis. Apoptosis assessment was conducted by analysis of DNA laddering, TdT (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase)-mediated dUDP nick-end-labelling and caspase-3/7 activity. The proportion of preantral follicles and the level of 17-β oestradiol, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were increased in all cultured groups, and it was significantly higher in Kit ligand treated groups than in the control (P < 0.001). The number of apoptotic signals in both vitrified samples is significantly higher than in the non-vitrified control (P < 0.01), and these signals are significantly lower in both Kit ligand treated groups than in non-Kit ligand treated groups (P < 0.001). The level of caspase-3/7 activity was higher in vitrified cultured ovaries than non-vitrified group (P < 0.01). Kit ligand was shown to improve in-vitro development of follicles, and also acted as an anti-apoptotic factor in vitrified ovaries. The developmental potential of follicles in vitrified groups was lower than that in fresh ovaries.
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