N OCIETY' - the Society for Reproductive Biology

GROWTH-PROMOTING ACTIVITY OF OOCYTES Is ATTAINED CONCOMITANT WITHTHE ACQUISITION OF MEIOTIC CO:MPETENCERB Gilchrist, LJ Ritter and DT Armstrong. -Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide, The Queen ElizabethHospital, Adelaide.Introduction : Cumulus cells are markedly less differentiated than mural granulosa cells (MGC),reflected in a higher proliferative capacity and in a reduced capacity to secrete progesterone. Wehave recently shown that this is due to a soluble factor(s) secreted by the oocyte which promotesgrowth and attenuates differentiation of follicular somatic 'cells (1). The aim of this study is todetermine the developmental expression throughout oogenesis of this oocyte-secreted growthfactor(s).",. :', r\Jtt)f' l~'~ c.~. . .............~i~f- i p"1:"-:'~ J',~. i-h t.~\r....L P