Ovarian development follicle

Normal prenatal and postnatal ovarian development, with multiple nonovulatory hemorrhagic follicles as an adult, 30-40% incidence of ovarian cancer in 18 months Normal prenatal development, but insensitive to the development promoted by estrogens during puberty. Sensitive to progesterone and prolactin. 

Inhibin B is produced by the developing follicles, and concentrations peak during the follicular phase. Concentrations of inhibin B have been used in conjunction with serum FSH and estradiol to assess ovarian function. Because inhibin is produced by gonadal tissue, it is thought to be a more direct marker of gonadal activity and ovarian reserve than pituitary hormones. In addition, cycle day 3 inhibin B concentrations may demonstrate a decrease before day 3 FSH concentrations. ... 

Female sexual development and behaviour in mammals occurs by default and requires no ovarian secretion, and it is only in genetic males that the testis can secrete hormones which destroy this female pattern and superimpose that of the male. Sexual differentiation is not so well defined in fish, and larval exposure to both synthetic estrogens and androgens is widely used in aquaculture to produce monosex cultures. Endocrine disruption of sexual differentiation in fish may therefore reflect both the complexity and diversity of such processes between different species. Some care is required in use of the terms hermaphrodite and sex-reversal since a true hermaphrodite has both functional testes and ovaries and a sex-reversed fish is fully functional as its final sex—both produce the appropriate viable gametes. Such functional sex-reversal is not possible in mammals, but in some species of fish it is the normal developmental pattern. In most of the cases of hermaphroditism or sex-reversal reported in the non-scientific press, there is evidence only for a few ovarian follicles within a functional testis. This may be considered as feminisation or a form of intersex, and is very clearly endocrine disruption, but it is certainly neither sex-reversal nor hermaphroditism. In some cases the terms have even been used to infer induction of a single female characteristic such as production of yolk-protein by males. 

The estrogens are secreted by the ovarian follicle and in smaller amounts by the adrenal cortex. Estrogens are important in the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system and the primary and secondary sex characteristics. At puberty, they promote growth and development of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and breasts. They also affect the release of pituitary gonadotropins (see Chap. 50). 

Progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum, placenta, and in small amounts by the adrenal cortex. Progesterone and its derivatives (ie, the progestins) transform the proliferative endometrium into a secretory endometrium. Progestins are necessary for the development of the placenta and inhibit the secretion of pituitary gonadotropins, which in turn prevents maturation of the ovarian follicle and ovulation. The synthetic progestins are usually preferred for medical use because of the decreased effectiveness of progesterone when administered orally. 

Corpus luteum The small yellow endocrine structure that develops within a ruptured ovarian follicle and secretes progesterone and estrogen. 

In females, the target organs are the ovaries where it increases the number and size (maturation, development and ripening) of Graafian follicles and prepare them for ovulation. During its development, the ovarian follicles secrete its own hormone estrogen. In males, it stimulates spermatogenesis. Under the influence of this hormone, seminiferous tubules produce spermatozoa. 

Complete development of the ovarian follicles to secretory stage and secretion of estrogen. 

B. Indications and nse Follistim is indicated for the development of multiple follicles in ovulatory patients participating in an assisted reproductive technology program. It is also indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in anovulatory infertile patients in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. 

Chronic use of combination agents depresses ovarian function. Follicular development is minimal, and corpora lutea, larger follicles, stromal edema, and other morphologic features normally seen in ovulating women are absent. The ovaries usually become smaller even when enlarged before therapy. 

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