| abstract |
In the invention, a method of stimulating the development of a mature oocyte involves either an in vitro interaction, either by intra-ovary injection or systemic administration, by interacting in vivo for 1 hour to 5 days of ovarian tissue or with C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) or CNP fusion protein , either with R-spondin protein or R-spondin fusion protein, or with both, at a dose effective to stimulate the development of a mature oocyte. In addition, a method of stimulating the development of a mammalian preantral follicle to the antral follicle stage involves interacting in vitro for at least one hour to 5 days with at least one mammalian ovarian preantral follicle with C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) or CNP fusion protein effective for activating the mammalian ovarian follicle. |