RESUMEN
This study investigated the effects of BMP-15 on the in vitro development of preantral follicles of collared peccaries. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 or 6 days in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM199+ ) supplemented with BMP-15 at rates of 0, 1, 25 or 50 ng/ml. The fragments were analysed histologically by evaluating follicular morphology, activation and growth as well as the potential for proliferation of granulosa cells. Our results show the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP-15 in the medium provided the greatest percentage of normal follicles (79.67% ± 0.69) when compared to other treatments (p < .05); however, this result is similar to 1 ng/ml BMP-15 (74.00% ± 1.90, p > .05). Moreover, 25 and 50 ng/ml of BMP-15 promoted follicular activation. BMP-15 supplements did not affect oocyte and follicular growth. All concentrations of BMP-15 increased the number of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) after 1 day of culture when compared to fresh fragments or the control samples (p < .05). However, at the end of the experiment, the number of NORs in follicles cultured in all treatments was higher than that observed in the fresh control (sample taken prior to culturing) (p > .05). In summary, the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP-15 to the culture medium of collared peccary preantral follicles maintained a high number of morphologically healthy follicles and stimulated the activation of primordial follicles after 6 days in culture.