Are estrogens of import to primate/human ovarian folliculogenesis?

The notion that estrogens play a meaningful role in ovarian folliculogenesi s stems from a large body of in vitro and in vivo experiments carried out i n certain rodent models, (e.g., rats) wherein the stimulatory role of estro gen on granulosa cell growth and differentiation is undisputed. However, ev idence derived from these polyovulatory species may not be readily generali zable to the monoovulatory subhuman primates, let alone the human. Only rec ently, significant observations on the ovarian role(s) of estrogen have bee n reported for the primate/human. It is thus the objective of this communic ation to review the evidence for and against a role for estrogens in primat e/human ovarian follicular development with an emphasis toward the applicat ion of the concepts so developed to contemporary reproductive physiology an d to the practice of reproductive medicine. The role(s) of estrogens will b e examined not only by analyzing the physiological evidence to the effect t hat these hormones control ovarian function and follicular growth, but also by summarizing the molecular evidence for the existence and distribution o f the cognate receptors.