Ovary Development

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Introduction

Human ovary with corpus luteum.
Adult human ovary viewed by endoscopy

The female gonad is the ovary and is closely associated with female internal genital (reproductive) tract development. In humans, these laterally paired organs lie within the peritoneal cavity. Genes such as Wnt-4 and DAX-1 necessary for initiation of female pathway ovary development, female gonad is not considered a default process.

Initial gonad development in females and males is virtually identical with germ cells migrating into an indifferent gonad. In females with XX, the ovary then begins to develop and the subsequent structure and timecourse of germ cell then differs between males and females. In the ovary oocytes proliferate prior to birth and arrest in meiosis 1.


Links: Menstrual Cycle | X Chromosome | Category:Ovary


Genital Links: genital | Lecture - Medicine | Lecture - Science | Lecture Movie | Medicine - Practical | primordial germ cell | meiosis | endocrine gonad‎ | Genital Movies | genital abnormalities | Assisted Reproductive Technology | puberty | Category:Genital
Female | X | X inactivation | ovary | corpus luteum | oocyte | uterus | vagina | reproductive cycles | menstrual cycle | Category:Female
Male | Y | SRY | testis | spermatozoa | ductus deferens | penis | prostate | Category:Male
Historic Embryology - Genital 
General: 1901 Urinogenital Tract | 1902 The Uro-Genital System | 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development | 1914 External Genitalia | 1921 Urogenital Development | 1921 External Genital | 1942 Sex Cords | 1953 Germ Cells | Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Disclaimer
Female: 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1904 Hymen | 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development | 1914 External Genitalia | 1914 Female | 1921 External Genital | 1927 Female Foetus 15 cm | 1927 Vagina | 1932 Postnatal Ovary
Male: 1887-88 Testis | 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1904 Leydig Cells | 1906 Testis vascular | 1909 Prostate | 1912 Prostate | 1914 External Genitalia | 1915 Cowper’s and Bartholin’s Glands | 1920 Wolffian tubules | 1935 Prepuce | 1935 Wolffian Duct | 1942 Sex Cords | 1943 Testes Descent | Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Disclaimer

Some Recent Findings

  • Retransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue: the first live birth in Germany[1] "Cryopreserved ovarian tissue can be retransplanted to restore fertility after radiation or chemotherapy. To date, 15 live births after retransplantation have been reported worldwide. We report the first pregnancy and the first live birth after retransplantation in Germany. This was the first live birth after retransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in Germany and also the first case with histological confirmation that the oocyte from which the patient conceived could only have come from the retransplanted tissue."
  • Mammalian ovary differentiation - A focus on female meiosis[2] "Over the past 50 years, the ovary development has been subject of fewer studies as compare to the male pathway. Nevertheless due to the advancement of genetics, mouse ES cells and the development of genetic models, studies of ovarian differentiation was boosted. This review emphasizes some of new progresses in the research field of the mammalian ovary differentiation that have occurred in recent years with focuses of the period around prophase I of meiosis and of recent roles of small non-RNAs in the ovarian gene expression."
  • Human RSPO1/R-spondin1 is expressed during early ovary development and augments β-catenin signaling[3] "Human testis development starts from around 42 days post conception with a transient wave of SRY expression followed by up-regulation of testis specific genes and a distinct set of morphological, paracrine and endocrine events. Although anatomical changes in the ovary are less marked, a distinct sub-set of ovary specific genes are also expressed during this time. The furin-domain containing peptide R-spondin1 (RSPO1) has recently emerged as an important regulator of ovary development through up-regulation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway to oppose testis formation. Here, we show that RSPO1 is upregulated in the ovary but not in the testis during critical early stages of gonad development in humans (between 6-9 weeks post conception), whereas the expression of the related genes WNT4 and CTNNB1 (encoding β catenin) is not significantly different between these tissues. Furthermore, reduced R-spondin1 function in the ovotestis of an individual (46,XX) with a RSPO1 mutation leads to reduced β-catenin protein and WNT4 mRNA levels, consistent with down regulation of ovarian pathways"
More recent papers
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Search term: Ovary Development

<pubmed limit=5>Ovary Development</pubmed>

Human Ovary Timeline

Fetal gonad retinoid receptor expression[4]

Approximate Timeline of human development listed below.

24 days - intermediate mesoderm, pronephros primordium

28 days - mesonephros and mesonephric duct

35 days - uteric bud, metanephros, urogenital ridge

42 days - cloacal divison, gonadal primordium (indifferent)

49 days - paramesonephric duct, gonadal differentiation

56 days - paramesonephric duct fusion (female)

100 days - primary follicles (ovary)

Movies

Gonad-icon.jpg
 ‎‎Ovary
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Urogenital septum 001 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Urogenital Septum
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Female external 001 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Female External‎‎
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Uterus 001 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Uterus
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Mouse Primordial Germ Cell Migration
Primordial germ cell 001 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Germ Cell E9.0
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Primordial germ cell 002 icon.jpg
 ‎‎Germ Cell E9.5
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 ‎‎Germ Cell E10.5
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Oogenesis

Human ovary non-growing follicle model

The 2 human ovaries gradually lose follicles both before and after puberty (the beginning of ovulation); beginning with about several million before birth, maximum number at birth, 300-400,000 by puberty and finally by late 40’s have only a few follicles left. Recent studies suggest that the original calculations of ovary follicle numbers at birth were over-estimates and the actual figure should be about 2.5 million.[5] The number of antral follicles detected within the ovary also decreases with increasing materal age.

In humans, a primodial follicle take about 150 days to develop into a preantral follicle (primary) and another 120 days to form an antral follicle (secondary). A number of antral follicles will then "compete" for 14-15 days to become the dominant follicle, which will undergo ovulation.

Infant Ovary

Histology of the female infant ovary Human infant ovary follicle 01.jpg
Overview Follicle

This image shows a region (see inset) of the infant ovary cortex.

There are a large number of developing oocytes which will eventually form a dense primordial germ layer at the ovary periphery.

Later stages of follicle development are completely absent and will begin to only appear just prior to puberty.

Table showing the Growth of the Ovary  
Vertex-breech
length
Greatest diam.
of head
Right Ovary Left Ovary Comparison between
Breadth Length Breadth Length Length Breadth
R. L. R. L.
50.0 42.6 0.9 1.9 0.9 2.5 .. +
125.0 123.0 1.2 5.9 1.5 4.1 + .. .. +
138.0 115.0 1.6 5.0 2.0 5.0 .. +
156.0 131.0 1.9 7.2 2.0 7.1 + .. .. +
173.0 163.5 3.0 9.0 ... ... .. .. .. ..
190.0 175.0 2.9 7.7 2.1 7.8 .. + + ..
223.0 162.0 2.9 10.5 3.0 9.1 + .. .. +
235.0 190.0 4.2 10.0 3.8 12.0 .. + + ..
260.0 213.0 3.6 11.1 4.0 11.4 .. + .. +
272.0 213.0 3.0 10.0 3.5 9.2 + .. .. +
305.0 238.0 3.0 9.9 3.9 10.9 .. + .. +
347.0 ... 3.5 10.8 4.9 8.5 + .. .. +
355.0 273.0 4.0 14.0 5.2 9.9 + .. .. +
386.0 324.0 5.1 11.5 3.0 9.9 + .. + ..
402.0 301.0 5.05 10.5 3.0 12.0 .. + + ..
3 weeks ... 5.0 17.0 5.0 14.0 + ..
6 weeks ... 7.5 15.0 7.0 14.7 + .. + ..
6 weeks ... 7.0 18.0 8.0 17.0 + .. .. +
10 weeks ... ... 14.0 ... 16.0 + ..
2 months ... 6.0 14.5 4.0 13.0 + .. + ..
3 months ... 6.0 15.5 5.0 14.7 + .. + ..
7 months ... 5.9 15.5 4.5 18.1 .. + + ..
15 months ... 9.0 18.0 9.0 19.5 + ..
I.75 years ... 7.0 20.0 8.5 15.0 + .. .. +
4 years ... 10.0 27.0 12.7 23.2 + .. .. +
5.5 years ... 11.1 29.0 9.1 26.1 + .. + ..
14 years ... 11.9 26.5 12.0 29.5 .. + .. +
The measurements are all given in millimeters, breech length is measured along the nape and the back.
Reference: Felix W. The development of the urinogenital organs. In Keibel F. and Mall FP. Manual of Human Embryology II. (1912) J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. pp 752-979.
    Links: 1912 Ovary Growth | Table Ovary Growth Table | Collapsible Table | Ovary Development

Postnatal Oogenesis

There is a dogma in mammalian development that new oocyte and follicle production does not occur during postnatal life. There is substantial data that shows human ovarian changes postnatally are loss by apoptosis of prenatal oocytes. A research group (Tilly JL, Johnson J. 2004, 2007) has recently published experiments using mice, showing potentially other sources/sites (bone marrow) of oocyte (putative germ cell) generation. They recently stated that the argument should be based upon "experimental approaches than simply an absence of evidence, especially from gene expression analyses". Several other research groups (Eggan K etal. 2004 and Veitia etal. 2007) have argued against these findings.

Adult Follicle Structure

Secondary (Antral) Follicle Structure

A follicle usually contains a single oocyte (egg, ovum, female gamete) and a series of supporting cells and a single fluid-filled space in layers surrounding this cell. The 3 layers below are arranged in layers outward from the oocyte.

Granulosa Cells

  • A specific cell type that proliferates in association with the oocyte within the developing follicles of the ovary. These cells form the follicle stratum granulosa and are also given specific names based upon their position within the follicle.
  • With development of the antral follicle, there are two populations of granulosa cells with distinct characteristics and functions: mural granulosa cells and cumulus cells.[6]
    • mural granulosa cells - an endocrine role by producing steroid hormones and various other ligands
    • cumulus cells - play a support role for oocyte development

Alternate Histological Terms

    • The membrana granulosa cells sit on the follicular basal lamina and line the antrum as a stratified epitelium. Following ovulation, these granulosa cells contribute to corpus luteum.
    • The cumulus oophorus is a column of granulosa cells that attaches the oocyte to the follicle wall. At ovulation, this column of cells is broken or separates to release the oocyte from its follicle attachment.
    • The corona radiata are the granulosa cells that directly surround the oocyte, and are released along with it at ovulation. Following ovulation, the corona radiata provide physical protection to the oocyte and are the initial structural barrier that spermatazoa must penetrate during fertilization.

Follicular Fluid

  • The antrum is a fluid-filled space in the secondary (antral) follicle
  • At ovulation, fluid is released along with the oocyte
  • Thought to "carry" the oocyte out of the follicle (like a boat on a wave)
  • Aids entry into the uterine tube

Theca Interna

(Greek, thek = box) The ovarian follicle endocrine cells forming the inner layer of the theca folliculi surrounding the developing follicle within the ovary. This vascularized layer of cells respond to leutenizing hormone (LH) synthesizing and secreting androgens (androstendione) transported to glomerulosa cells which process initially into testosterone and then by aromatase into estrogen (estradiol). Theca cells do not begin hormonal functions until puberty.

Theca Externa

(Greek, thek = box) The ovarian follicle stromal cells forming the outer layer of the theca folliculi surrounding the developing follicle within the ovary. Consisting of connective tissue cells, smooth muscle and collagen fibers.

Follicle Classification

There are several different nomenclatures for the stages of follicle maturation. It probably does not matter which naming system you use, as long as you are consistent and use the same set of terminology for all stages. Early stages of follicle development appear to be gonadotropin (Gn) independent and with development become gonadotropin "sensitive" and then "dependent" . (UK spelling is gonadotrophin).

Follicle development stages and the relationship to gonadotropin (Gn)[7]
Human ovary follicle development

Primordial Follicle

Alternate nomenclature: small follicle or type 1, 2, 3 (25cells)

Primary Follicle

Alternate nomenclature: preantral follicle or type 4 (26-100 cells), type 5 (101-300 cells)

Secondary Follicle

Alternate nomenclature: small and large antral follicle or type 6 (3001-500 cells), type 7 (501-1000 cells)

Preovulatory Follicle

Alternate nomenclature: Graafian follicle or type 8 (>1000 cells)

Atresia

At any one time the majority of follicles are destined not to complete maturation and at any stage (from type 4-7) degeneration of the follicle can occur. Cells die by apoptosis.

Follicle Factors

Ovarian developmental genes[8]

There are both external endocrine factors and internal follicle factors that can influence the development and atresia of ovarian follicles.

External Factors

Leutenizing Hormone (LH)

  • from the anterior pituitary
  • stimulate the theca interna to synthesize and secrete androgens (androstendione) transported to granulosa cells
  • granulosa cells process initially into testosterone and then by aromatase into estrogen (estradiol)

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

  • from the anterior pituitary
  • initiates follicle growth through the granulosa cells
  • involved in selecting the most advanced (sensitive) follicle to proceed to ovulation

Internal Factors

Oocyte Factors

  • Growth Differentiation Factor-9 (GDF-9) - involved in the differentiation of theca cells during this early stage of follicular development OMIM 601918
  • Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15)
  • Fibroblast growth factor 8B (FGF8B)

Granulosal Factor(s)

  • stimulates the recruitment of theca cells from cortical stromal cells

Thecal Factor(s)

  • appear to be several inhibitors of apoptotic cell death
  • Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
  • Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α)
  • keratinocyte growth factor (KGF)
  • hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)
  • Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) also known as osteogenic protein-1 or OP-1

Ovary Growth

Table below is from historic data (1912) from measurement of histological materials.[9]

Table showing the Growth of the Ovary
Vertex-breech
length
Greatest diam.
of head
Right Ovary Left Ovary Comparison between
Breadth Length Breadth Length Length Breadth
R. L. R. L.
50.0 42.6 0.9 1.9 0.9 2.5 .. +
125.0 123.0 1.2 5.9 1.5 4.1 + .. .. +
138.0 115.0 1.6 5.0 2.0 5.0 .. +
156.0 131.0 1.9 7.2 2.0 7.1 + .. .. +
173.0 163.5 3.0 9.0 ... ... .. .. .. ..
190.0 175.0 2.9 7.7 2.1 7.8 .. + + ..
223.0 162.0 2.9 10.5 3.0 9.1 + .. .. +
235.0 190.0 4.2 10.0 3.8 12.0 .. + + ..
260.0 213.0 3.6 11.1 4.0 11.4 .. + .. +
272.0 213.0 3.0 10.0 3.5 9.2 + .. .. +
305.0 238.0 3.0 9.9 3.9 10.9 .. + .. +
347.0 ... 3.5 10.8 4.9 8.5 + .. .. +
355.0 273.0 4.0 14.0 5.2 9.9 + .. .. +
386.0 324.0 5.1 11.5 3.0 9.9 + .. + ..
402.0 301.0 5.05 10.5 3.0 12.0 .. + + ..
3 weeks ... 5.0 17.0 5.0 14.0 + ..
6 weeks ... 7.5 15.0 7.0 14.7 + .. + ..
6 weeks ... 7.0 18.0 8.0 17.0 + .. .. +
10 weeks ... ... 14.0 ... 16.0 + ..
2 months ... 6.0 14.5 4.0 13.0 + .. + ..
3 months ... 6.0 15.5 5.0 14.7 + .. + ..
7 months ... 5.9 15.5 4.5 18.1 .. + + ..
15 months ... 9.0 18.0 9.0 19.5 + ..
I.75 years ... 7.0 20.0 8.5 15.0 + .. .. +
4 years ... 10.0 27.0 12.7 23.2 + .. .. +
5.5 years ... 11.1 29.0 9.1 26.1 + .. + ..
14 years ... 11.9 26.5 12.0 29.5 .. + .. +
The measurements are all given in millimeters, breech length is measured along the nape and the back.
    Links: 1912 Ovary Growth | Table Ovary Growth Table | Collapsible Table | Ovary Development

Postnatal Growth

Human ovary postnatal growth.jpg

Human ovary postnatal volume growth[10]

Corpus Luteum

Human ovary with corpus luteum (white ring).

(Latin, corpus = body, luteum = yellow) The remains of ovarian follicle formed after ovulation that acts as an endocrine organ (produce progesterone and oestrogens) supporting pregnancy and preventing menstruation (loss of the endometrial lining). Formed during the luteal phase (secretory phase) of the menstrual cycle by proliferation of both follicular granulosa cells (granulosa lutein cells) and thecal cells (theca lutein cells), which together interact to produce progesterone and oestrogens.

Peak luteal function during the menstrual cycle, determined by maximum luteal area, progesterone concentration and estradiol concentration, is observed about 6 days following ovulation. [11]

If fertilization and pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates to form the corpus albicans.

History

  • Regnier de Graaf (1641 – 1673) was the first observer in the ovary of a cow as a yellow structure, the yellow colour was caused by accumulation of steroidal hormones.
  • Ludwig Fraenkel (1870 - 1951) first identified the endocrine function of the corpus luteum.[12]

Embryo Virtual Slide

Human Ovary and Corpus Luteum

Human ovary - corpus luteum 01.jpg

 ‎‎Mobile | Desktop | Original

Ovary | Embryo Slides
Corpus Luteum Links: anatomy overview | image - histology overview | image - Layers granulosa and theca | image - Layers detail granulosa and theca | image - low power label | image - high power label | image - low power | image - high power | image - corpus albicans | theca and granulosa lutein cells | Granulosa cell | corpus luteum | granulosa lutein cells | theca lutein cells | corpus albicans | ovary | menstrual cycle
  Historic Papers: 1969 corpus luteum ultrastructure 1 | 1969 corpus luteum ultrastructure 2

Corpus Albicans

Human ovary with corpus albicans (white arrow).

Ovary histology 003.jpg

Corpus albicans histology

(corpora albicantia) (Latin, corpus = body, albicans = whitish) The histological structure formed by luteolysis of the corpus luteum in the ovary. If implantation does not occur and the hormone hCG is not released the corpus luteum degenerates and the structure is white, not yellow, because of the absence of steroid hormone synthesis/accumulation.


Corpus Luteum Links: anatomy overview | image - histology overview | image - Layers granulosa and theca | image - Layers detail granulosa and theca | image - low power label | image - high power label | image - low power | image - high power | image - corpus albicans | theca and granulosa lutein cells | Granulosa cell | corpus luteum | granulosa lutein cells | theca lutein cells | corpus albicans | ovary | menstrual cycle
  Historic Papers: 1969 corpus luteum ultrastructure 1 | 1969 corpus luteum ultrastructure 2

Animal Models

Bovine Ovary

Ovarian development model.jpg Ovarian Development Model[13]
  • A - The development of the ovary commences at the mesonephric surface epithelium (yellow cells) in the location of the future gonadal ridge.
  • B - Some mesonephric surface epithelial cells change phenotype into GREL (Gonadal Ridge Epithelial-Like) cells (yellow-blue cells).
  • C - The GREL cells proliferate and the basal lamina underlying the mesonephric surface epithelium breaks down allowing stromal cells (green) to penetrate into the gonadal ridge.
  • D - GREL cells continue to proliferate and PGCs (grey) migrate into the ridge between the GREL cells. Mesonephric stroma including vasculature (red) continues to penetrate and expand in the ovary.
  • E - Oogonia proliferate and stroma penetrates further towards the ovarian surface enclosing oogonia and GREL cells into ovigerous cords. The cords are surrounded by a basal lamina at their interface with stroma, but are open to the ovarian surface. Stromal areas including those between the ovigerous cords contain capillaries.
  • F - A compartmentalization into cortex and medulla becomes obvious. The cortex is characterised by alternating areas of ovigerous cords and stroma, whereas the medulla is formed by stromal cells, vasculature and tubules originating from the mesonephros (rete ovarii). Once stroma penetrates below the cells on the surface it spreads laterally. The GREL cells at the surface are then aligned by a basal lamina at their interface with the stroma and begin to differentiate into typical ovarian surface epithelium (yellow cells). Some germ cells at the surface are also compartmentalized to the surface as stroma expands below it.
  • G - Ovigerous cords are partitioned into smaller cords and eventually into follicles. These contain GREL cells that form granulosa cells (blue cells) and oogonia that form oocytes. The first primordial follicles appear in the inner cortex-medulla region, surrounded by a basal lamina. A now fully intact basal lamina underlies multiple layers of surface epithelial cells.
  • H - At the final stage the surface epithelium becomes mostly single-layered and a tunica albuginea, densely packed with fibres, develops from the stroma below the surface epithelial basal lamina. Some primordial follicles become activated and commence development into primary and preantral follicles.
Links: Bovine Development

Histology Images

Ovary histology: Tunica Albuginea x20 | Tunica albuginea, Germinal epithelium x40 | Primary follicle, primordial follicle, oocyte, x40 | Secondary follicle, cumulus oophorus, zona pelucida, granulosa cells, oocyte x20 | Corpus luteum, theca lutein cells, granulosa lutein cells, Loupe | Corpus luteum, theca lutein cells, granulosa lutein cells, x10 | Corpus luteum, theca lutein cells, granulosa lutein cells, x40 | Corpus albicans, primary follicle, primordial follicle, granulosa cells, oocyte x20 | Menstrual Cycle | Ovary Development

Abnormalities

See also Genital System - Abnormalities

International Classification of Diseases

E28 Ovarian dysfunction

  • Excl.: isolated gonadotropin deficiency (E23.0); postprocedural ovarian failure (E89.4)

E28.0 Estrogen excess

  • Use additional external cause code (Chapter XX), if desired, to identify drug, if drug-induced.

E28.1 Androgen excess

  • Hypersecretion of ovarian androgens
  • Use additional external cause code (Chapter XX), if desired, to identify drug, if drug-induced.

E28.2 Polycystic ovarian syndrome

  • Sclerocystic ovary syndrome
  • Stein-Leventhal syndrome

E28.3 Primary ovarian failure

  • Decreased oestrogen
  • Premature menopause NOS
  • Resistant ovary syndrome
  • Excl.: menopausal and female climacteric states (N95.1); pure gonadal dysgenesis (Q99.1); Turner syndrome (Q96.-)

E28.8 Other ovarian dysfunction

  • Ovarian hyperfunction NOS

E28.9 Ovarian dysfunction, unspecified

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Mouse ovary normal and polycystic ovary syndrome model.[14]

International Classification of Diseases - E28.2 Polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or Stein-Leventhal syndrome (1930s researchers) clinical term for a metabolic hormone syndrome leading to anovulation and with many other symptoms (hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance) and is one of the most common forms of female infertility, see review.[15] Using the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology/American Society for Reproductive Medicine criteria, about 15% - 20% of women suffer from this disease. Ovarian cysts arise through incomplete follicular development or failure of ovulation (anovulation). A range of drugs has been used to induce ovulation in these women and more recently in vitro maturation (IVM) has also been suggested as a possible future technique.


In December 2012, the NIH held a workshop on "Evidence-based Methodology on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome". PCOS is a common disorder affecting 5 million women of reproductive-age in the United States. Symptoms include: irregular or no menstrual periods in women of reproductive age (ovulatory dysfunction), acne, weight gain, excess hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism), thinning scalp hair, ovarian cysts (polycystic ovarian morphology) and mental health problems.

One key workshop finding was that the name "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" is inappropriate for defining the condition and should be renamed to reflect the complex metabolic, hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian, and adrenal interactions that characterize the syndrome and their reproductive implications.

  • Androgen Excess + Ovulatory Dysfunction
  • Androgen Excess + Polycystic Ovarian Morphology
  • Ovulatory Dysfunction + Polycystic Ovarian Morphology
  • Androgen Excess + Ovulatory Dysfunction + Polycystic Ovarian Morphology

Recurrent pregnancy loss also occurs in about 50% of total pregnancies with polycystic ovary syndrome.[16]

A recent study in the Han Chinese population[17] identified associations between PCOS and three genetic loci: 2p16.3, 2p21 and 9q33.3.


Links: Menstrual Cycle | Genital Abnormalities | Endocrine Abnormalities | 2012 NIH Workshop on PCOS | 2011 Australia Guideline assessment and management PCOS | OMIM 184700]

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a major cause of death in the postnatal female population. A recent mouse study has identified a population of cancer-prone stem cells located at the hilum region of the ovary that are prone to epithelial ovarian cancer.[18]


Luteoma of Pregnancy

Luteoma of pregnancy is a rare nonneoplastic tumor-like mass of the ovary that emerges during pregnancy and regresses spontaneously after delivery. Luteomas can be hormonally active producing androgens that can result in maternal and fetal hirsutism and virilization.

Image: Dr Ed Uthman (Houston, Texas) - other pathology images


Histology


Links: Hematoxylin and Eosin | Histology Stains

References

  1. <pubmed>22282711</pubmed>
  2. <pubmed>21964319</pubmed>
  3. <pubmed>21297984</pubmed>
  4. <pubmed>21674038</pubmed>
  5. <pubmed>20111701</pubmed>
  6. <pubmed>19755486</pubmed>
  7. <pubmed>19589134</pubmed>| J Ovarian Res.
  8. <pubmed>19538736</pubmed>| PMC2711087 | BMC Dev Biol.
  9. Keibel, F. and Mall, F.P. Manual of Human Embryology II. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia (1912) Chapter XIX. The Development of the Urinogenital Organs - Development of the Reproductive Glands and their Duct
  10. <pubmed>16891683</pubmed>
  11. <pubmed>15846762</pubmed>
  12. <pubmed>4261581</pubmed>
  13. <pubmed>23409002</pubmed>| PLoS One.
  14. <pubmed>23185989</pubmed>| PMC3538528 | J Ovarian Res.
  15. <pubmed>24379699</pubmed>
  16. <pubmed>23700477</pubmed>
  17. <pubmed>21151128</pubmed>
  18. <pubmed>23467088</pubmed>

Reviews

  • Complementary pathways in mammalian female sex determination. Nef S, Vassalli JD. J Biol. 2009 Sep 2;8(8):74. Review. PMID: 19735582
  • On the origin of the maternal age effect in trisomy 21 Down syndrome: the Oocyte Mosaicism Selection model. Hultén MA, Patel S, Jonasson J, Iwarsson E. Reproduction. 2010 Jan;139(1):1-9. Epub . Review. PMID: 19755486

Articles

  • The forkhead transcription factor FOXL2 is expressed in somatic cells of the human ovary prior to follicle formation. Duffin K, Bayne RA, Childs AJ, Collins C, Anderson RA. Mol Hum Reprod. 2009 Dec;15(12):771-7. Epub 2009 Aug 25. PMID: 19706741 | Mol Hum Reprod.

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Additional Images

Historic Images

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Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

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Genital Links: genital | Lecture - Medicine | Lecture - Science | Lecture Movie | Medicine - Practical | primordial germ cell | meiosis | endocrine gonad‎ | Genital Movies | genital abnormalities | Assisted Reproductive Technology | puberty | Category:Genital
Female | X | X inactivation | ovary | corpus luteum | oocyte | uterus | vagina | reproductive cycles | menstrual cycle | Category:Female
Male | Y | SRY | testis | spermatozoa | ductus deferens | penis | prostate | Category:Male
Historic Embryology - Genital 
General: 1901 Urinogenital Tract | 1902 The Uro-Genital System | 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development | 1914 External Genitalia | 1921 Urogenital Development | 1921 External Genital | 1942 Sex Cords | 1953 Germ Cells | Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Disclaimer
Female: 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1904 Hymen | 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development | 1914 External Genitalia | 1914 Female | 1921 External Genital | 1927 Female Foetus 15 cm | 1927 Vagina | 1932 Postnatal Ovary
Male: 1887-88 Testis | 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1904 Leydig Cells | 1906 Testis vascular | 1909 Prostate | 1912 Prostate | 1914 External Genitalia | 1915 Cowper’s and Bartholin’s Glands | 1920 Wolffian tubules | 1935 Prepuce | 1935 Wolffian Duct | 1942 Sex Cords | 1943 Testes Descent | Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Disclaimer

| Menstrual Cycle | X Chromosome



Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 28) Embryology Ovary Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Ovary_Development

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G