ANDROSTENEDIONE AND FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF GOAT PREANTRAL FOLLICLES IN VITRO

This study investigated the effects of androstenedione and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on the viability and growth of caprine preantral follicles. Ovarian tissues were cultured for 1 or 7 days in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM + ) containing androstenedione (0, 1, 10, 50, or 100 ng/ml), FSH (50 ng/ml), or a combination of these two hormones. Cultured and non- cultured control tissues were processed for histological and fluorescence analysis. In comparison with non- cultured control, a significant reduction was noted in the percentage of normal follicles in all treatments after