In Vitro Mouse Ovarian Follicle Growth and Maturation in Alginate Hydrogel: Current State of the Art

This review describes the main factors affecting the in vitro development of mouse ovarian follicles under conditions of three-dimensional alginate hydrogel system. The factors discussed include concentration of alginate hydrogel, presence of additives (collagen, fibrin) influencing substrate rigidity; culture conditions; composition of culture media; substances that act like antioxidants (salts of ascorbic acid, glutathione) and contribute to the improvement of lipid metabolism (L-carnitine), hormones and growth factors. The methods for follicle group cultivation in alginate hydrogel and cocultivation of different cell populations with follicles encapsulated in alginate hydrogel are covered in the present article.