Abstract
From fetal life until senescence, the ovary is an extremely active tissue undergoing continuous structural and functional changes. These ever-changing events are best summarized by a quotation attributed to Plato when describing motion in space and time—‘nothing ever is but is always becoming…’. With respect to the ovary, these changes include, at the beginning, the processes of follicular formation and thereafter those of follicular growth and atresia, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, and decisions relating to the number of mature oocytes that are ovulated for fertilization and the role of the corpus luteum. The aims of this review are to offer some examples of these complex and hitherto unknown processes. The ones herein have been elucidated from studies undertaken in vitro or from normal in vivo events, natural genetic mutations or after experimental inactivation of gene function. Specifically, this review offers insights concerning the initiation of follicular growth, pathologies relating to poly-ovular follicles, the consequences of premature loss of germ cells or oocytes loss, the roles of AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) and BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) genes in regulating follicular growth and ovulation rate together with species differences in maintaining luteal function during pregnancy. Collectively, the evidence suggests that the oocyte is a key organizer of normal ovarian function. It has been shown to influence the phenotype of the adjacent somatic cells, the growth and maturation of the follicle, and to determine the ovulation rate. When germ cells or oocytes are lost prematurely, the ovary becomes disorganized and a wide range of pathologies may arise.
Highlights
The mammalian ovary has been, and continues to be, an extensively studied organ.With respect to human health and well-being, significant challenges remain, including the restoration of fertility in women with polycystic syndrome; assisting those experiencing an early depletion of their oocyte reserve and; for both human and animal conservation, new technologies to promote ovarian follicular growth in vitro in order to obtain mature oocyte for fertilization and a successful pregnancy
The purpose of this review is to offer a few examples of the above to show that the ovary is a complex tissue to study with sometimes unpredictable (“crazy?”) results
The presented examples address: the initiation of follicular growth; the consequences of oocyte loss for somatic ovarian cells; pathologies relating to poly-ovular follicles; the roles of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) genes in regulating follicular growth and ovulation rate, and; some species differences in maintaining luteal function during pregnancy
Summary
The mammalian ovary has been, and continues to be, an extensively studied organ. Of interest is the fact that mammalian ovaries sometimes exhibit quite remarkable functional quirks, whether these are part of normal physiology or observed in nature by mutations or after experiments inducing functional modifications by inactivating or enhancing gene function. The purpose of this review is to offer a few examples of the above to show that the ovary is a complex tissue to study with sometimes unpredictable (“crazy?”) results. The presented examples address: the initiation of follicular growth; the consequences of oocyte loss for somatic ovarian cells; pathologies relating to poly-ovular follicles; the roles of AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) and BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) genes in regulating follicular growth and ovulation rate, and; some species differences in maintaining luteal function during pregnancy. The intention of this review is not to be exhaustive, but to go beyond the scope of classic reviews
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