Ovarian function and control Flashcards
What are the different stages of follicle?
- Primordial
- Priimary
- Secondary
- Tertiary/antral
Describe the structure and function of follicles
- Oocyte maturation
- Fluid filled
- Secretes oestradiol
- Multiple stages of development with different morphologies
Describe the structure and function of the corpus luteum
- Highly vascularised
- Transient endocrine gland
- Solid
- Progesterone production
- Several inches in size, takes over most of ovary when present
What are the key steps in the formation of follicles?
- Recruitment of follicular cells
- Early follicular growth
- Oocyte changes
Describe the recruitment of follicular cells
- Granulosa cells form primordial follicle
- Form cohorts/”egg nests”
- Make up a reservoir
Describe early follicular growth
- Local ovarian growth stimulated by IGFs, BMP
- Many oocyte derived
- Gonadotrophin independent
Describe the oocyte changes in follicular development
- Increases cytoplasmic volume
- Formation of zona pellucida
- Communication via gap junctions
Describe primordial follicles
- Recruitment of granulosa cells (flattened)
- Single layer of flattened granulosa cells
Describe the resting primary follicles
- Act as reserves
- Develop into secondary follicles
- Granulosa proliferation occurs (cuboidal now)
Describe the secondary follicles
- Surrounded by granulosa cells (multiple layers)
- Zona pellucids present
- Basement membrane forms
- Recruitment of theca cells (originaly stromal cells)
Describe the antral maturing follicles
- Escape influence of granulosa cells and resume meiosis
- Develop in follicular waves
- Fluid accumulation
- Recruitment, selection and dominant antral follicles
- Go through these stages quickly compared to rest of development
Describe follicle recruitment
- Initiated by FSH wave
- Cohort of small antral follicles (10-20) start to develop
- Secrete small amount of oestradiol
- Occurs in luteal and follicular phase
- Some undergo atresia
Describe follicle selection
- Dependent on FSH for support
- Produce inhibin and oestradiol
- Negative feedback on pituitary gland, supprsing only FSH
- Become LH dependent
- Some undergo atresia
Describe follicle dominance
- Transition from FSH to LH depenedence
- LH receptors appear in granulosa cells
- Increased oestradiol and inhibin production = inhibits growht of other follicles
- Growth 1mm/day in cow, >3mm/day in horse
- Remain for ~6 days
- ovulate or undergo atresia depending on whether progesterone falls
Describe the hormone levels in follicular recruitment
- High FSH
- Lower LH
- Lower oestradiol from ovary back to surge centre
Describe the hormone levels in follicular selection
- Increasing inhibin from ovary
- Decreasing FSH
- Increasing LH
- Increasing oestradiol from ovary back to surge centre
Describe the hormone levels in follicular dominance
- High inhibin from ovary
- Low FSH
- High LH (LH dependent)
- Very high oestradiol back to surge centre
What is the effect of progesterone on follicular dominance?
- No ovulation in presence of progesterone
- Dominant follicle will undergo atresia
How many follicular waves are seen in the cow?
3, first 2 end in atresia, last ends in ovulation
What is meant by the follicular wave?
The wave-like pattern of follicle development, i.e. will develop all the way to dominant follicle then become atretic repeated a few times before ovulation occurs
What cells are involved in the production of oestradiol from the ovary?
Theca and granulosa cells
What stimulates the production of oestradiol?
FSH and LH
What is the key enzyme involved in oestradiol production?
Aromatase
What receptors are found on the theca and granulosa cells?
- Theca: LH
- Granulosa: FSH
Describe the process of oestradiol production in the ovary
- LH binds to receptors on LH cells
- Stimulates production of enzymes producing testosterone
- Testosterone to granulosa cells
- When FSH binds, enzymatic cascade that converts testosterone to oestradiol
Outline the process of oogenesis
- Primordial germ cells originate from hindgut
- Proliferate by mitosis
- first migrate to genital ridge, massive mitosis to form primary oocytes, then into meiosis
- Arrest at prophase I until birth
Describe oocyte maturation
- After ovulation
- Cytoplasmic maturation takes place in preparation for embryo development, need RNA and organelles
- Nuclear maturation stimulated by LH surge, completion of meiosis I
- Meiosis II arrested until fertilisation leads to influx of Ca2+
What is ovulation?
The release of the oocyte
Where does ovulation occur?
Over the entire surface of the ovary, except mare where only occurs from ovulation fossa
What initiates ovulation?
Th LH surge, which is stimualted by oestradiol in the absence of progesterone
When does the LH surge occur?
- Around the start of oestrus in cow, sheep, pig and dog
- Gradual increase in LH during oestrus in mares
What is the LH surge to ovulation interval in cows?
24-30 hours after LH surge
What is the LH surge to ovulation interval in mares?
LH levels elevated 5-6 days around ovulation
What is the LH surge to ovulation interval in dogs?
Variable, 24-96 hours after LH surge
Describe the ovulation event
- High LH leads to fluid accumulation in maturing follicles, increased pressure
- Surface connective tissue of ovary weakened by increased synthesis of collagenase
- Ovarian smooth muscle cells contract, blood flow increases, local fluid accumulates
- Follicular wall bursts
- Oocyte and granuloma cells released from GC anchor point
- Oocyte carried with follicular fluid into peritoneal cavity
- Captured by fimbraie of infundibulum
Describe spontaneous ovulation
- Hormone induced
- Reduced production of progesterone from CL due to luteolysis
- Increased follicular dvelopment
- Oestradiol in absence of progesterone leading to LH surge
Describe induced ovulation
- Can be induced by coitus e.g. cats
- Single act of intercourse leads to LH surge in cat
- Sensory stimulation stimulates surge centre
- Multiple copulations leads to better responding LH surge
Describe the formation of the CL
- Basement membrane breakdown
- Lutenisation and migration
- Granulosa avascular) become large luteal cells (hypertrophy)
- Theca cells form small luteal cells (proliferation)
- Rapid proliferation and hypertrophy of blood vessels when basement membrane breaks down
- Intense angiogenesis
- Steroidogenesis switch and increase (oestradiol to progesterone)
What are the different stages of the corpus luteum?
- Corpus haemorrhagicum (early)
- Corpus luteum (main one)
- Corpus albicans (late, regressing)
What hormones support the growth and function of the CL?
- LH
- Prolactin in some species (rodents)
- Other modulatory hormones: IGF-I, GH, PGE2