Evidence has been presented that the regulation of
EGF activity in granulosa cells in vitro can occur by
stimulation of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor
(FSH-R) expression (Luciano et al. 1994).
When EGF and
FSH have been tested on in vitro cultures of pig preantral
follicles, the vast majority of follicles grow to the antral
stage, with high secretion of oestradiol, and the oocytes
from these follicles can be matured and fertilized and
develop until the blastocyst stage (Wu and Tian 2007). In
caprine, the interaction between EGF and FSH promotes
follicular survival, although it has no effect on growth
(Zhou and Zhang 2005a, b).