Generation of Live Young from Xenografted Mouse Ovaries

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are being used to aid in overcoming reproductive problems and to preserve endangered wildlife. However, high numbers of mature, fertilizable oocytes are often difficult to obtain. The culture of primordial follicles as a method of oocyte maturation has had limited success. A recent study (1) has shown that ovarian germ cells can be matured in vitro and give rise to live young, but only if the donor oocyte nucleus is transferred to a mature enucleated oocyte. Xenografting (transfering tissue from one species to a different species) provides an alternative method for the in vivo maturation of oocytes, and in this process, both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation can be completed