Increased number of multi-oocyte follicles (MOFs) in juvenile p27Kip1 mutant mice: potential role of granulosa cells

main results and the role of chance: Compared with WT, p27Kip1 mutant pre-pubertal mice had a greater number of oocytes, a greater number of growing follicles and a greater number of MOFs. These differences were statistically significant (P , 0.05), particularly in the case of MOFs (P . 0.001). The unusually large number of MOFs in juvenile p27-deficient mice is a novel observation. In WT mice p27 protein remains present in the oocyte nucleus but gradually decreases in the ooplasm during follicular growth, while granulosa cells show dynamic, follicle stage-related changes. limitations, reasons for caution: These results have been obtained in mice and they cannot be directly extrapolated to humans. wider implications of the findings: The dramatic increase in the numbers of MOFs in juvenile p27 mutants has not been previously reported. The number of MOFs declines sharply as the mice become sexually mature, pointing to their negative selection. These findings open a new approach to the study of sterility. study funding/competing interests: This study has been funded by the Basque Government, Dept. of Health grant