Scientists at ICAR’s National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru, are working on a new technique to save eggs lost early inside the ovary. This approach focuses on preantral follicles, tiny structures with immature eggs that usually degenerate naturally. If successful, it will help preserve fertility by protecting eggs before cancer treatment harms the ovaries. It could also increase embryo production in animal breeding. Dr. Artabandhu Sahoo, Director of ICAR-NIANP, told The Hindu, “More than 99.9% of eggs inside the ovary degenerate naturally.” The team is retrieving these immature eggs and growing them in the lab to produce embryos. This technique can increase the number of eggs available for IVF and cloning, as current methods mainly use mature eggs. Progress has been made in livestock. A team led by Dr. P.S.P. Gupta produced the first buffalo embryo using eggs grown from preantral follicles. The institute also developed freezing methods for these follicles in sheep as part of an Indo-Hungary project. They are now working on preserving embryos created this way. Worldwide, live births from preantral follicle technology have only occurred in mice so far. Applying it to large domestic animals is ongoing work. This technology could create embryo banks, aid endangered species conservation, and improve studies on fertility effects from pollutants and medicines. Ultimately, it holds promise to help cancer patients keep their fertility before treatment begins.