Oocyte-like structures arising from cells of follicular fluid are not captured in aspirates

Abstract

Recently, cells from ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) of post-menopausal women and women with premature ovarian failure were investigated and oocyte-like cells with diameters up to 95 microm were found to arise after a certain time in culture. In addition, it seems that a mixed population of germ cells and germline stem cells exists in non-follicle ovarian structures. Relating to an earlier publication, where it was shown that pre-antral follicles with immature oocytes could be captured in follicular fluid (FF) aspirates due to the incorporated tissue in the puncture needle, it was reasoned that OSE or otherwise germline stem cells, possibly captured equally through ovarian puncture, might give rise to oocyte-like cells. The aim of this study was therefore to try to derive such oocyte-like cells from FF aspirates of patients undergoing IVF after culture. Additionally, FF-derived cells were aggregated with human embryonic stem cells to see if an embryonic environment had the ability to enable cells from the FF aspirate to acquire an oocyte-like morphology. Investigations could not confirm the development of oocyte-like cells from cells of FF aspirates.