File talk:Human ovary follicles light and electron microscopy 01.jpg

Phenotypes of the ovarian follicular basal lamina predict developmental competence of oocytes

Hum Reprod. 2009 Apr;24(4):936-44. doi: 10.1093/humrep/den447. Epub 2008 Dec 18.

Irving-Rodgers HF1, Morris S, Collett RA, Peura TT, Davy M, Thompson JG, Mason HD, Rodgers RJ.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The ovarian follicular basal lamina underlies the epithelial membrana granulosa and maintains the avascular intra-follicular compartment. Additional layers of basal lamina occur in a number of pathologies, including pili annulati and diabetes. We previously found additional layers of follicular basal lamina in a significant percentage of healthy bovine follicles. We wished to determine if this phenomenon existed in humans, and if it was related to oocyte function in the bovine. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined follicles from human ovaries (n = 18) by electron microscopy and found that many follicles had additional layers of basal lamina. Oocytes (n = 222) from bovine follicles with normal or unusual basal laminas were isolated and their ability to undergo in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture to blastocyst was compared. Healthy bovine follicles with a single layer of basal lamina had oocytes with significantly (P < 0.01) greater developmental competence than healthy follicles with additional layers of follicular basal lamina (65% versus 28%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide direct evidence that the phenotype of the follicular basal lamina is related to oocyte competence.

PMID 19095662