Oxygen consumption by bovine granulosa cells with prediction of oxygen transport in preantral follicles

The rate of oxygen consumption by granulosa cells is a key parameter in mathematical models that describe oxygen transport across ovarian follicles. This work measured the oxygen consumption rate of bovine granulosa cells in vitro to be in the range 2.1-3.3 x 10(-16) mol cell(-1) s(-1) (0.16-0.25 mol m(-3) s(-1)). The implications of the rates for oxygen transport in large bovine preantral follicles were examined using a mathematical model. The results indicate that oocyte oxygenation becomes increasingly constrained as preantral follicles grow, reaching hypoxic levels near the point of antrum formation. Beyond a preantral follicle radius of 134 mu m, oxygen cannot reach the oocyte surface at typical values of model parameters. Since reported sizes of large bovine preantral follicles range from 58 to 145 mu m in radius, this suggests that oocyte oxygenation is possible in all but the largest preantral follicles, which are on the verge of antrum formation. In preantral bovine follicles, the oxygen consumption rate of granulosa cells and fluid voidage will be the key determinants of oxygen levels across the follicle.