Kit ligand and glial‐derived neurotrophic factor as alternative supplements for activation and development of ovine preantral follicles in vitro

In vitro growth of preantral follicles has the potential to produce considerable numbers of competent oocytes for use in medicine, agriculture, and even wildlife conservation. The critical regulatory role of growth factors and hormones in the development of preantral follicles has been established. This study investigated the effect of glial‐derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) and kit ligand (KL) on the in vitro development of ovine preantral follicles. Results indicated that both GDNF and KL significantly improved activation of primordial follicles, similar to co‐addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which are commonly used for in vitro follicular development. Importantly, GDNF had a more profound effect on follicle health, development, and differentiation compared with KL alone. Furthermore, the combination of GDNF and KL in the presence of EGF and bFGF had a positive, synergic effect on health, development, and differentiation of preantral follicles, as determined by histological and hormonal assessments. The results of this study may provide a foundation for further studies that will unravel the molecular mechanisms of follicular development to further improve the current status of in vitro preantral follicle culture. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 35–47, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Siliciclastic input and sedimentation rate as controls on paleoecological distribution of Lower Miocene benthic carbonate producers in a fan–delta: Zagros foreland basin,Iran

This paper aimed to study Lower Miocene (Burdigalian) mixed carbonate–siliciclastic deposits within an Upper Cenozoic synorogenic conglomerate–dominated succession in north of Shalamzar in the Zagros foreland basin, Iran. The deposits are composed of nine facies: foraminiferal mudstone, silty mudstone, sandy mudstone, fossiliferous sandy mudstone, fossiliferous argillaceous mudstone, fossiliferous calclithite, coral limestone, calcareous claystone and hybrid sandstone. The facies represent a mixed carbonate– siliciclastic shelf–type fan–delta. The subenvironments of the fan–delta include muddy pro–delta, sandy delta– front, clastic proximal mouth bar and a subordinate delta plain. Siliciclastic input and sedimentation rate controlled the paleoecological distribution of different benthic carbonate–producing fauna in the fan–delta during its progradation into a shelf marine environment. Input of siliciclastic deposits and sedimentation rate limited the diversity and development of corals and controlled their colonization and growth morphologies in the sandy delta–front. Siliciclastic input (including plant materials and coal debris) and sedimentation rate controlled the trophic habitats of many gastropods and their abundance and distribution in the sandy delta– front and clastic proximal mouth bar. Also, increased siliciclastic input favored abundance of larger benthic foraminifera in most parts of the fan–delta with the exception of the muddy pro–delta.