Female Reproductive Sys Flashcards
Hormonal Control
pulsatile release of GnRH to start puberty
All follicles in ovarian cortex prior to that are primordial follicles
Relase of LH & FSH from basophils of ant pituitary
Hormonal Control
Ovary
Cortex- various ovarian follicle stages, corpus luteum & corpus albicans
Medulla- loose CT, BV, lymphatic vessels, n. fibers
Germinal epithelium- modified peritoneum, covers ovary from mesothelium & composed of simple cuboidal cells
Tunica albuginea- dense CT beneath germinal epithelium
Ovarian Cortex
Stroma w/ stromal cells & ovarian follicles
Primordial germ cells (oogonia) are from yolk sac endoderm & migrate to developing goand in 6th week.
Undergo mitosis until near end of 5th month- 5 to 7 mill oogonia
Only 1 mill oogonia will be surrounded by follicular cells & survive to time of birth.
Remaining oogonia atrophy
Cycle continued
Oogonia that survive enter prophase I & known as primary oocyte
Meiosis is arrested in diplotene stage of meiosis I by OMI produced by follicular cells.
Total of 450 ooocytes released over the entire reproductive years
All other follicles degen & die.
Different Stages of Follicle/Oocyte
FSH Indep
Primordial Follicles (non growing)
Primary/prenatral follicles (growing)
FSH dep
Secondary/antral follicles (growing)
Mature or Graafian follicles (preovulatory) (growing)
Ea follicle contains primary oocyte surrounded by 1 or multilayer follicular or granulosa cells
Secondary oocyte formed before ovulation when the oocyte completes first meiotic division
Primordial Follicle
Smallest & most numerous type of follicles in cortex of ovary.
Ea is composed of 1 layer of flat follicular cells around primary oocyte separated from stroma by basement mem
Primary oocyte arrested in prophase I - 1 nucleus, Golgi, RER, mitoch, lysosomes
Primary Follicles
Oocyte grows
- unilaminar primary follicle- primary surrounded by simple cuboidal or columnar follicular cells single layer
- multilaminar primary follicle- follicular cells prolif & stratify, & now are granulosa cells. Prolif of follicular cells is due to activin produced by primary oocyte
Multilaminar Primary Follicle
Zona Pellucida
during primary follicle stage, an amorphous substance appears, separating oocyte from follicular cells.
Contains ZP1, 2, 3 secreted by oocyte & form extracell coat of glycoprotein
ZP-3 is most important, acts as R for sperm binding & for inducing acrosomal rxn
Theca interna, theca externa, granulosa cells
Stromal cells around multilaminar primary follicle (theca folliculi) form inner theca interna (richly vascular layer) & outer theca externa (fibrous CT)
Theca interna cells: steroid producing cells, possess LH R on cell mem & influenced by LH.
Produce androstenedione (male sex hormone), which enters granulosa cells where converted to estradiol by aromatase.
Granulosa cells & theca interna are seprated by thickened basal lamina
Secondary/Antral Follicles
Characterized by accumulations of fluid known as liquor folliculi among granulosa cells
Prolif of granulosa cells depends on FSH, & possess FSH R.
FSH & estrogen induce granulosa cells to express LH R
Primary oocyte bigger but no further growth due to OMI!
Liquor folliculi- exudate of plasma, w/ GAGs, proteoglycans, steroid binding proteins & hormone (estradiol, inhibin, activin)
Follicle
most of follicles reach this stage undergo atresia
Some granulosa cells associate w/ atretic follicles form interstitial glands which secrete estrogen until menopause
Few secondary follicles continue to develop into mature follicles
Light pink= collapsed ZP
Dark pink= BV
Mature Graafian Follicle
Droplets of liquor folliculi coalesce to form single fluid filled chamber called antrum.
Granulosa cells rearrange & primary oocyte is surrounded by small group of granulosa cells called cumulus oophorus
Single layer of granulosa cells that immediately surrounds primary oocyte is called corona radiata