Figure 1

Validation of FGF2 as a growth factor that affects primordial follicle assembly. A) Representative image of a 0-day old rat ovary, showing oocytes in nests (circle nests). B) Representative image of an ovary after two days in culture, showing some oocytes assembled into primordial follicles (arrows). C) Proportion of oocytes still retained in nests after two days of culture with or without FGF2 treatment. D) Total number of oocytes per ovarian cross-section after culture. * = p<0.05 compared to untreated Control by Student’s t-test.