Morphological study of cultured preantral ovarian follicles of mice after transplantation under the kidney capsule

Isolated ovarian follicles taken from 10-day-old mice and cultured in collagen gel for 5 days, in the presence or absence of serum, were transplanted under the kidney capsule of ovariectomized mice. Hosts showed vaginal opening within 5 days and cornified vaginal smears by 9 days. Follicles proceeded to Graafian stages and luteinization occurred. Ovulation was not observed and oocytes degenerated within the luteinized follicle. Theca formation was preceded by the appearance of blood vessels within the graft. In-vitro fertilisation of harvested oocytes resulted in embryos.