Highlights In this study, the immunolocalization for glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) in goat ovarian follicles and the effect of cortisol on in vitro development of preantral follicles was evaluate. The NR3C1 was strongly expressed in oocytes of primary and antral follicles. A progressive increase of immunostaining for NR3C1 in granulosa cells from primordial to antral follicles was observed. In conclusion, it was observed the presence of NR3C1 in the oocyte and granulosa cells in all follicular categories. The in vitro culture showed that high cortisol concentration (10 ng/ml) exerts a deleterious effect on follicular survival.