Aspects of ovarian follicle development throughout life
Aspects of ovarian follicle development throughout life
The pool of primordial follicles present in the female ovary reaches its maximum number around 20 weeks of gestational age and then decreases in a logarithmic fashion throughout life until complete depletion occurs around the age of the menopause. Reproductive life is initiated when less than 10% (0.5 million) of primordial follicles are left. The entire growth trajectory of the follicle takes at least 3 months. Follicle growth up to the antral stage occurs during fetal life and infancy. While the role of gonadotropins in early follicular development remains controversial, the last 2 weeks of development are FSH dependent. The intercycle rise in FSH and decreasing levels thereafter are crucial for recruitment of a cohort of healthy, early antral follicles and subsequent single dominant selection. Following puberty, anovulation may persist for years and this may presage the development of adult anovulatory infertility. The menopause is preceded by a period of reduced fertility. The development of reliable and sensitive markers for ovarian ageing will be the challenge of the near future.
ovary, follicle, development, childhood, puberty, menstrual cycle, aging
161-170
Macklon, N. S.
7db1f4fc-a9f6-431f-a1f2-297bb8c9fb7e
Fauser, B. C. J. M.
9e931d75-651e-4ecd-8643-772bb892e654
1999
Macklon, N. S.
7db1f4fc-a9f6-431f-a1f2-297bb8c9fb7e
Fauser, B. C. J. M.
9e931d75-651e-4ecd-8643-772bb892e654
Macklon, N. S. and Fauser, B. C. J. M.
(1999)
Aspects of ovarian follicle development throughout life.
Hormone Research, 52 (4), .
(doi:10.1159/000023456).
(PMID:10725781)
Abstract
The pool of primordial follicles present in the female ovary reaches its maximum number around 20 weeks of gestational age and then decreases in a logarithmic fashion throughout life until complete depletion occurs around the age of the menopause. Reproductive life is initiated when less than 10% (0.5 million) of primordial follicles are left. The entire growth trajectory of the follicle takes at least 3 months. Follicle growth up to the antral stage occurs during fetal life and infancy. While the role of gonadotropins in early follicular development remains controversial, the last 2 weeks of development are FSH dependent. The intercycle rise in FSH and decreasing levels thereafter are crucial for recruitment of a cohort of healthy, early antral follicles and subsequent single dominant selection. Following puberty, anovulation may persist for years and this may presage the development of adult anovulatory infertility. The menopause is preceded by a period of reduced fertility. The development of reliable and sensitive markers for ovarian ageing will be the challenge of the near future.
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Published date: 1999
Keywords:
ovary, follicle, development, childhood, puberty, menstrual cycle, aging
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Local EPrints ID: 185685
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/185685
ISSN: 0301-0163
PURE UUID: 69a55aa1-1a02-46b0-b361-1b96ccdab4f4
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Date deposited: 12 May 2011 14:35
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:15
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Author:
N. S. Macklon
Author:
B. C. J. M. Fauser
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