Ovarian follicular growth in humans: ovarian ageing and population of growing follicles

Authors
Citation
A. Gougeon, Ovarian follicular growth in humans: ovarian ageing and population of growing follicles, MATURITAS, 30(2), 1998, pp. 137-142
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Reproductive Medicine","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
MATURITAS
ISSN journal
03785122 → ACNP
Volume
30
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
137 - 142
Database
ISI
SICI code
0378-5122(19981012)30:2<137:OFGIHO>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
By integrating morphometrical and endocrinological data, as well as biologi cal effects of various peptides synthesized by the primate follicle, the cu rrent review proposes a morphofunctional view of the early follicle growth within the human ovary. From the time they enter the preantral stage (0.15 mm), during the early luteal phase, follicles need about 70 days to reach a size of 2 mm. These follicles are impervious to cyclic FSH and LH changes in terms of granulosa cell (GC) proliferation, and their steroidogenic acti vity is very low. From the time they enter the selectable stage (2-5 mm in diameter) during the late luteal phase, follicles become sensitive to cycli c changes of FSH in terms of quality and GC proliferation, but not in terms of GC aromatase activity. Thus, as the follicle develops, its responsivene ss to gonadotropins progressively increases. In vitro studies suggest that this progressive acquisition of follicular cell responsiveness to gonadotro pins might be under the control of peptides acting in an autocrine/paracrin e fashion within the follicle. The numbers of growing follicles decrease wi th ageing, especially in women over the age of 40. During the follicular ph ase of the menstrual cycle, selectable follicles exhibit a mitotic activity of their GC higher in women older than 40 years than in younger women. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.