Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Follicle development is complex, and the use of reaggregated ovaries (ROs) allows us to investigate oocyte-somatic cell interactions, since they can be created using different sources of germ and somatic cells. Production of an RO involves the separation of germ and somatic cells using differential plate adhesion, followed by reaggregation into a pellet. The pellet is then transplanted beneath the kidney capsule of an immunocompromised mouse which facilitates fol...

Each egg, when ovulated from a follicle, is surrounded by cumulus cells. Prior to ovulation, these cumulus cells secrete cumulus extracellular matrix (cECM) molecules, resulting in cumulus expansion. Cumulus expansion has been linked to the developmental quality of the oocyte. Hyaluronan (HA), the major constituent of the cECM, is stabilised by molecules such as heavy chains (HCs), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and tumour necrosis factor-stimulated gene 6 (TSG6) during expansion. All of ...