From: jiwu@www.dpz.gwdg.de To: p.a.fowler@abdn.ac.uk Date sent: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 17:57:46 +0000 Subject: H.R . paper Wu Copies to: ovary-science@nottingham.ac.uk Dear Dr. Fowler I have read your message to Ovary Science about your attempts to look for small follicles in follicular fluid from routine IVF. The paper you are refering to is mine. I am now working in Germany with Dr. Penelope Nayudu in the German Primate Center Göttingen. I am continuing my studies in this area and have been also successful in finding small follicles from routine IVF fluid here in Germany. However, the number of follicles seems to be less than I found in China, perhaps due to some differences in aspiration technique. I believe that these small follicles are simply lodged in the needle as it passes through the ovary tissue and this process does not require suction. Then when the suction is resumed the small follicles are washed through by the follicular fluid. The follicles themselves are very small and imbedded in small tissue fragments. Therefore the follicles may not be clearly visible under the type of dissecting microscope commonly used for human oocytes. I have found it better to use an inverted microscope where the round shape of the small follicles is better visible. These small follicles (only around 70-100µm diameter) can only be clearly seen with a dissecting microscope after a couple of days of culture. If you have further questions please feel free to contact me. Dr. Ji Wu