An equilibrium needs to be established by the cellular and acellular components of the
ovarian follicle if developmental competence is to be acquired by the oocyte. Both cumulus …

Mammalian ovaries consist of follicles as basic functional units. The total number of ovarian
follicles is determined early in life, and the depletion of this pool leads to reproductive …

Two major functions of the mammalian ovary are the production of germ cells (oocytes),
which allow continuation of the species, and the generation of bioactive molecules, primarily …

In recent years, exciting progress has been made towards unravelling the complex
intraovarian control mechanisms that, in concert with systemic signals, coordinate the …

Oocyte quality is a key limiting factor in female fertility, yet we have a poor understanding of
what constitutes oocyte quality or the mechanisms governing it. The ovarian follicular …

Theca cells function in a diverse range of necessary roles during folliculogenesis; to
synthesize androgens, provide crosstalk with granulosa cells and oocytes during …

Foxo transcription factors have been implicated in diverse biological processes, including
metabolism, cellular stress responses, and aging. Here, we show that Foxo3a–/–female …

Recruitment of primordial follicles is essential for female fertility; however, the exact
mechanisms regulating this process are largely unknown. Earlier studies using anti …

Accurate estimation of the number of ovarian follicles at various stages of development is an
important indicator of the process of folliculogenesis in relation to the endocrine signals and …

Understanding the physiology underlying the complex dialog between the oocyte and its
surrounding somatic cells within the ovarian follicle has been crucial in defining optimal …