Abstract: Objective To investigate the in vitro proliferation and microencapsulation of ovarian cells.Methods Ovarian cells were separated,cultured and microencapsulated by a convenient microencapsulating method developed by our laboratory.The in vitro proliferation of ovarian cells was observed.Estradiol and progesterone levels in the culture medium were measured to evaluate the endocrine function of ovarian cells and the permeability of the capsule.Results Estradiol and progesterone levels in culture medium of the 6 th generation were similar to those in the primary culture.There were no significant differences in the levels of estradiol and progesterone pre and after microencapsulation(P>0.05).Conclusion The cultured ovarian cells in vitro have the ability to produce estradiol and progesterone. Microencapsulation will not affect the release of these hormones produced by ovarian cells.

Key words: microencapsulation, ovarian cell, estradiol, progesterone