ORGANIZATION OF THE OVARIAN FOLLICLE AND EVENTS IN BIOLOGY: OOGENESIS, OVULATION, OR ATRESIA

Abstract

This report presents an overview of the biology of oogenesis, ovulation and atresia. n humans, oogenesis commences during the late embryonic and early fetal periods. rimitive germ cells migrate from the yolk sac, establish residency in the developing ovary and give rise to oogonia. n the fetus, oogonia proliferate by mitosis and are transformed to primary oocytes, which persist for 12-50 years in an arrested (dictyate) stage of meiotic prophase- Resumption of meiosis and breakdown of the germinal vesicle occur with maturation of the ovarian follicle by FSH and LH during the human menstrual cycle and the "overriding" of the action of the maturation inhibitor/arrester (OMI). arious theories (muscular versus proteolytic enzyme) on the mechanisms of ovulation, the cellular and tissue organization of the ovarian follicle, the chemical constituents of follicular fluid and hormone-mediated regulation of these structures and processes are presented. he process of atresia is characterized morphologically and biochemically. he susceptibility to xenobiotics of the oocyte and Graafian follicle during maturation and ovulation is discussed and examples of agents that adversely affect these cellular targets and processes leading to insult or early atresia are given.

Citation

Crisp, T. ORGANIZATION OF THE OVARIAN FOLLICLE AND EVENTS IN BIOLOGY: OOGENESIS, OVULATION, OR ATRESIA. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-93/176 (NTIS PB93194439), 1992.

Additional Information

Mutation Research 296(1/2):89-106, 1992

• ORGANIZATION OF THE OVARIAN FOLLICLE AND EVENTS IN BIOLOGY: OOGENESIS, OVULATION, OR ATRESIA