P-173: Evaluation of The Follicular Growth after Mouse Ovarian Organ Culture in The Medium Supplemented with Growth Differentiation Factor-9B (GDF-9B)

Background: Growth differentiation factor -9B (GDF-9B) is an oocyte derived growth factor, this protein is essential for development of ovarian follicles and act mainly by binding to its receptor on the surface of granulosa cells. The effect of this factor on the growth of follicles in various developmental stages particularly primordial and primary follicles is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GDF-9B on the growth of cultured mouse ovarian follicles in various developmental stage. Materials and Methods: Ovaries from 14 days old mice were cultured for 7 days. Ovaries were cultured without or with recombinant GDF-9B (20, 40 ng/ml). At the end of this time, serial sections were prepared to count follicles in various developmental stages. Results: The results of this study show that culture of ovaries in medium containing of GDF-9B significantly increased the percentage of antral follicles and decrease the percentage of preantral follicles. Conclusion: Overall, this study showed that GDF-9B stimulate differentiation of preantral follicles to antral stage. However this factor had any effect on the growth of primary and primordial follicles.