Studies of oogenesis and follicular development in the golden hamster. 3. The initiation of follicular growth in vitro.

Ovaries derived from hamsters on day 5 p.p. were maintained in organ culture for 15 days. It was found that the process of follicular growth was severely retarded in organ cultures devoid of gonadotrophic hormones. The addition of FSH and LH resulted in a partial improvement in follicular development, a result which supports the view that gonadotrophic hormones are important in the early development of the ovary.