O-20: The Combination of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Follicular Stimulating Hormone Promotes Human Follicle Development In Vitro Culture

Background Fertility preservation is an important part of scientific study in the field of reproductive medicine. Ovarian cryopreservation and in vitro follicles culture provide option for fertility conservation in older women or cancer patients. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or FGF-2, is member of fibroblast growth factors family which play critical roles in cell migration proliferation, and differentiation during embryonic development. We planned this study to investigate the effect of Basic fibroblast growth factor in combination with follicular stimulating hormone on the follicular activation, maturation, viability and steroid production in human ovarian tissue culture after vitrification MaterialsAndMethods Ovarian tissue was obtained from (n=8) women undergoing gynecological operations. Then cortical tissue strips were vitrified for two weeks. After thawing cortical strip were divided to three groups including:FSH, FSH + bFGF (200 ng) and control (without FSH). Cortical strip were cultured in a (α-MEM) medium for 14 days. Then ovarian fragments were processed for histological and apoptosis status using Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining and TUNEL kit respectively. Estradiol (E2), Anti mullerian hormone (AMH) and progestron concentration in culture medium were calculated using ELISA kit and viability were evaluated using Calcein-AM Ethidium homodimer-1. Results The percentage and diameter of primary and secondary follicles significantly increased in bFGF+ FSH group compared with other groups. Also Estradiol, progesterone and AMH production were higher in the bFGF + FSH group compared with other groups. In addition, the apoptosis status significantly decreased in bFGF + FSH group. Finally in FSH group the diameter of follicle increased and the apoptosis rate decreased compared with control group but it was not significant. Conclusion The bFGF-FSH combination activated primordial follicles and promotes growth of primordial and primary follicles in vitro. On the other hand bFGF-FSH decreases the rate of apoptosis during in vitro culture of human cortical strip.