Approaches for in vitro culture of granulosa cells and ovarian follicles

The in vitro culture of ovarian follicles or cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) is used to study the factors that regulate follicular development and may have potential use in artificial reproductive technology (ART). Before ovulation, the follicle is formed by oocyte and cell populations known as granulosa cells (GCs). These cells build the internal and external mass of the follicular wall. Oocyte growth and proliferation of the surrounding cells depend on the gap junctions between the oocyte and the GCs. Maintenance of the optimal in vitro culture system allowing for preservation of follicle architecture and granulosa-oocyte interaction may be critical for success in vitro maturation of follicles. Recently many studies have focused on a culture of GCs, which have important functions related to steroidogenesis. Granulosa cells maintained in in vitro conditions exhibit stem cell properties making it important to consider in vitro culture (IVC) methods of the GC population.