Oogenesis

• Process of producing egg cells

• Products of meiotic division
• Responsible for the haploid condition of cells
• Takes place within the follicles of the ovaries

(Dumaguit, 2021)
2n
OOGENESIS
• Polar body - smaller than the egg due
2n to the unequal cytokinesis
• Provides the ovum with a greater
cytoplasm & stored food
• 1st Polar Body - may or may not
undergo the MD2 (cell condition
dependent)
• Ootid – does not have to go through
major changes (after MD2, it
immediately differentiates) for it to
become a functional ovum
• Mature egg cell
(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Only at the puberty will
the girls’ 1° oocyte
proceed to 2° oocyte

Being ovulated every month

Fertilization

Ovum (N) (Dumaguit, 2021)

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 General Parts
Ovary
• Divided into central medulla and a peripheral cortex
• Cortex - business part of the ovary
• Medulla - Consists of connective tissues and blood vessels; Continuous with
the mesovarium
• Thin sheet that attached (mesentery) the ovary to the body wall (LPO)
• Double-layered extension of the peritoneum
• The route from the blood vessels TO AND FROM the ovary
• Covered by a continuous sheet of epithelium called germinal epithelium
• Gave rise to the future oocytes
• Consists of ovarian tissue NOT future egg cells

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 FROG OVARY
Frog’s Egg
• A large sac of yolk
• The heavier and larger granules are concentrated toward the animal
hemisphere, vicinity of the germinal vesicle, or immature nucleus
• Surrounded by a coat necessary for retaining the shape of the egg
• Aids in cleavage and gastrulation
• Contains a metabolic byproduct pigment

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Periovarial membrane
• Peritoneum of the ovary which continues into the
oviduct
• Consists of squamous epithelial cell and adipocytes

Oviduct
• Convoluted structure that is found alongside of the
ovary and is attached to the periovarial membrane

Periovarial space
• Space between the periovarial membrane and the
ovary

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Ovarian Follicle
• Collective term for theca externa, theca interna, and
the follicle cells
• contain blood vessels and nerves
• Make up the limited stroma of the frog’s ovary

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Theca Externa
• Outermost connective tissue
surrounding the ovary
• Continuous with the mesovarium
• Region of rupture during ovulation
• to allow the egg to escape into the
body cavity
• Thousands of individual sacs containing
the eggs are suspended in this covering

Theca Interna
Oogonia Nuclear membrane • Inner connective tissue surrounding
the ovary and each egg

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Follicle Cells
• Derived from the oogonia
• Contain oval and granular nuclei
• Surround the developing oocyte
Air spaces/ bubbles • Found in close association with the oocyte
throughout the process of maturation
Vitelline membrane
• A non-cellular, transparent membrane between
the follicle cells and each mature egg
• Derived from both the ovum and follicle cells
• Developed during the maturation process, thus it
is not seen in the early oogonia stage
Perivitelline Space
• A fluid-filled space formed between the egg and
the vitelline membrane after fertilization
• The fluid may be derived from the egg, which
shows compensatory shrinkage (Dumaguit, 2021)
 DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES Oogonia
• Usually located at the
periphery of the ovary
• Smaller than the oocytes
• Have no pigment and
contain little yolk
• Each cluster represents a
future ovarian unit
consisting of many follicle
cells and 1 ovum
• Determining which oogonium is to be selected for maturation is impossible
• Pre-maturation germ cell divides by mitosis numerous times then enters a
quiescent phase (growth)
• Those grow becomes ova while those that did not become follicle cells
• Majority of oogonia never mature into ova (Dumaguit, 2021)
Oocytes
• Have centrally located nucleus (Germinal vesicle)
• Those with invisible nucleus are caused by the cross sectioning of the sample
• Massive amount of yolk provides nourishment for the embryo
• Secondary oocytes – will be shed outside the water during amplexus
(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Primary oocyte

Oocytes
• Potential ova
• Bigger than the oogonia
• Distinction between the
primary and secondary
oocytes is not possible
Oocyte
• The more active the cell is, Nuclei
the more nuclei there are
• Germinal vesicle (immature
nucleus) - the lightly stained
structure at it center
• Seen most of the time
with several nucleoli
(Dumaguit, 2021)
 CAT OVARY
Begin your study of the cat’s ovary at the cortex at the ovarian surface

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Begin your study of the cat’s ovary at the cortex at the ovarian surface

Cortex

Medulla

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Germinal epithelium
• Epithelial lining of the ovary that is
composed of cuboidal cells
• Forms the outer surface

Tunica albuginea (tunica – mantle;

albuginea – white)
• Layer of fibrous connective tissue
beneath the germinal epithelium

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Primary Oocyte Primary Oocyte
Stroma (bed) (Primary follicle) (Growing follicle)

• Beneath the tunica albuginea

• Penetrates the substance of the
ovary
• Consists of connective tissue fibers
and spindle shaped cells
• Embedded here are early follicles,
Stroma Oogonium
each of which are surrounded by a
single layer of squamous follicle Nucleus of oogonium
cells

• Stromal cells - unspecialized intermediate mesoderm cells

• Some are modified as thecal cells around each follicle and
others are modified as interstitial cells
(Dumaguit, 2021)
Oogonium / Primordial Follicle
(G. ioin – egg; gonos – producing)
• A potential ovum with vesicular
nucleus with a prominent nucleolus
• Found embedded in the stroma and
occurring in clusters
• The small oogonia without the
follicle cells surrounding them are in Nucleus
their early stage
• May or may not be surrounded by
follicle cells Nucleolus
Follicle
Primary Oocyte
Cells

(Dumaguit, 2021)
STAGES OF MATURATION

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Primary Follicle Stage
• The oogonia is surrounded by a single layer of
flattened follicles
• Follicles - have dark nuclei and may be
flattened (squamosal) or low cuboidal
depending on the developmental stage of
the follicle
• Oogonium (ioin – egg; gonos – producing) -
bigger than the follicle cells surrounding it

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Late Primary Follicle Stage:
• Oogonium and follicles start to
move deeper in the ovary
• Now more mature and starts to
enlarge
• Zona pellucida separates the
follicle cells from the oogonium
• The follicle cells proliferate
mitotically to form multiple layers
(growing follicle)
• Stromal cells adjacent to the
follicle form a specialized sheath or
theca around it
(Dumaguit, 2021)
STAGES OF MATURATION

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Growing Follicle Stage (1° oocyte)
• The follicle cells have proliferated by
dividing mitotically and are now several
layers thick
• It has increased in size and complexity
like the egg cell
• The antrum, zona pellucida, and stratum
granulosum start to be formed during
this stage

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 The following structures make up a growing follicle:
Follicle cells
• Several layers thick
• Consisting of low columnar or cuboidal cells

Antrum / Follicular cavity (antron - cavity)

• Within the growing follicle but may not be that evident
• Formed by the union of spaces between the follicle cells
• Precipitation of protein in the fluid may give it a granular
appearance

Liquor folliculi
• A viscous follicular fluid secreted by the follicle cells
• Appears as a light pink coagulum within the antrum
• May not be obvious at this point of the cell’s development

Oogonium or Primary oocyte

• The probable stage of development of the cell in a growing follicle.
• The two are hardly distinguishable from each other

Zona Pellucida (zona-girdle; pellucida - transparent)

• A deeply staining membrane surrounding the egg cell and
separating it from stratum granulosum
• Probably secreted by the germ cell and the follicle cells together
(Dumaguit, 2021)
Antrum formation:
• Oocyte has usually reached its maximum size but
the follicle as a whole continuous to grow in size
until it becomes a large vesicle
• bulges from the free surface of the ovary
• The follicle (granulose) cell layer continuous to
proliferate
• theca interna, a vascular inner layer of
estrogen-producing secretory cells and the
• theca externa composed primarily of
connective tissue
• As this continued to progress, spaces, filled with
liquor folliculi, are formed in the stratum
granulosum
• The irregular spaces then join forming a large fluid-
filled cavity known as the antrum
(Dumaguit, 2021)
STAGES OF MATURATION

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Graafian Follicles (2° oocyte) The following structures make up a graafian follicle:
• Large follicle that bulges on the free surface of the Theca interna
ovary (Only 1 per ovulation in humans) • Inner layer between the theca
• Ovulation will involve the rupture of the ovarian externa and the granulose cells of
surface as well as the wall of the follicle the capsule
• Consists of large stromal cells with
Stratum granulosum oval nuclei and capillaries
• Richly vascularized
Antrum
• Secretory cells
Cumulus oophorus
Theca externa
Oocyte • Outer layer of the capsule
Corona radiata • Composed of the spindled-shaped
Theca externa dense connective tissue fibers
• Continuous with the surrounding
Theca interna
ovarian stroma
• Arranged as a discrete capsule
(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Theca folliculi

Theca externa Theca interna

Corona radiata (corona – crown; radiate –
radiating)
• Layer of follicle cells of the cumulus
oophorus that lie nearest to the
oocyte
• Separated from the oocyte by the
zona pellucida

Zona pellucida and liquor folliculi

Theca folliculi (theca - case)

• The stroma immediately adjacent to
the follicle that forms a capsule
around the follicle
(Dumaguit, 2021)
Primary oocyte
• Has a heavy nuclear envelop, a
granular nucleus with a large
nucleolus and a cytoplasm filled
with yolk granules
• Becomes a secondary oocyte after
the MD1
• may not be possible to see since
ovulation occurs immediately
Stratum granulosum (stratum-
layer; granulosum – granulous)
• Layers of follicle cells bordering
Graafian, excluding the cumulus
oophorus
(Dumaguit, 2021)
Antrum
• The fluid filled cavity first seen in the
growing follicle that has grown bigger
• It is line by granulose cells

Cumulus oophorus (cumulus – a

heap; oion- egg + phoros- bearin)
• The eccentric mound of follicle cells
surrounding egg cells
• It includes the oocyte, zona pellucida
and surrounding granulose cells.

(Dumaguit, 2021)
(Dumaguit, 2021)
Atretic follicles (atretes – not perforated)
• Unsuccessful follicles undergoing
degenerative process
• Initial atresia occurs in the ovum after the
degeneration of the follicle cells
• The structure shows an antrum with
scattered follicle cells, unorganized stratum
granulosum and fragments of the germ cells
• Atresia of a growing follicle is exhibited by
the presence of a collapsed zona pellucida
and a cavity invaded by the thickened and
vascularized theca interna
• The mass of tissue resembles a regressing
corpus luteum and is called a corpus
atretica
(Dumaguit, 2021)
STAGES OF MATURATION

(Dumaguit, 2021)

Corpus luteum
• Masses of granular tissue in the ovary
resulting from the ovulation of egg cells
• Persist during pregnancy
• Produce progesterone
• More lightly stained
• Follicles converges at the middle portion
Lutein cells
• Large, pale staining cells with vesicular
nuclei
• From the stratum ganulosum of the
ovulated Graafian follicle
• On the periphery of the corpus luteum
and within the contours of its folds
Capillaries
• Network of small blood vessels with a
single endothelial lining
• Identified as empty spaces or by dark
masses of blood corpuscles
Capsule
• Layer surrounding the corpus luteum
• Consists of connective tissue fibers
and fusiform cells (both derived from
theca externa), lutein-like cells (from
theca interna) and blood vessels.
• Thickness varies (Dumaguit, 2021)
STAGES OF MATURATION

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Corpus albicans
• Usually found in the central portion of
the ovary
• Non-functional corpus luteum
• Formed when fertilization does not
take place
• Stroma:
• Forms a capsule around the
regressing corpus luteum
• Invades the regressing luteal cells white hyalinized scar
• Replaces them as they degenerate
leaving a white hyalinized scar
• Identified by the pale stain in its
central portion
(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Growing
follicle

Oogonia

Graafian
follicles

Primary
follicle

Growing
follicle
(Dumaguit, 2021)
(Dumaguit, 2021)
Periovarial membrane (peri –
aroind)
• Peritoneum of the ovary which Oviduct
continues into the oviduct • Convoluted structure that is
• Consists of squamous epithelial cell found alongside of the ovary
and adipocytes and is attached to the
periovarial membrane
Periovarial space
• Space between the periovarial
membrane and the ovary

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 HUMAN OVARY
• Parts of the human ovary is similar to the cat’s ovary
• Degenerating follicles are numerous in the human ovary

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Stroma

Tunica albuginea and stroma

Arterioles • More prominent & bigger in
humans
Arterioles
• Same descriptions with the cat’s
ovary

(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Vein

Blood Vessels
• Distinguish
between a vein
Arteries
an artery

Arteries

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Mature Graafian Follicle 1° oocyte
• Each contains a single oocyte Zona pellucida
• Oocyte - the large, round, pink-
staining cell at the top
• They also consist of granulosa
cells and theca of follicle Antrum
• Nucleus of oocyte is called a germinal
vesicle
• Active corpus luteum might not be seen

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Mature Graafian Follicle
• When fertilization is unsuccessful,
the corpus luteum progress into
corpus albicans

(Dumaguit, 2021)
Corpora lutea
• Most of the corpora may be in
various stages of regression thus
an active corpus luteum may not
be seen
• The degenerating corpus in human
has a large cavity filled with loose
connective tissue and remnants of
lutein cells

(Dumaguit, 2021)
(Dumaguit, 2021)
 Secondary oocyte is released at
metaphase of the second meiotic
division; it and the first polar body are
Primary follicle still contained within the zona pellucida

Growing follicle
At ovulation: Follicular wall will
burst open and the ovum, together
with its surrounding cumulus cells
and liquid contents of the follicular
Mature follicle cavity will be cast out into the
oviduct of Fallopian tube

First meiotic Zona pellucida

division occurs
before ovulation

• In some text: granulosa cells are said to comprise both the zona radiate and a cumulus oophorous layer
• Not all follicles that can be found in the ovary reach the point expelling ripe eggs
• Most of them break down and resorbed at some stage of their development; many of the primordial
follicles never develop any further.
(Dumaguit, 2021)
ADDITIONAL IMAGES
(Frog Ovary)
 OOCYTES

OOGONIA
OOCYTE
(nucleus not
shown)

Yolk Granules

Air Bubbles
OOCYTE

Nuclear
Membrane Nucleoli

Nucleoplasm

Germinal Vesicle
 Follicle
Cells

Vitelline Membrane

Air Bubbles/Spaces

Perivitelline Space
ADDITIONAL IMAGES
(Cat Ovary)
 Germinal Epithelium

Tunica Albuginea

Blood Vessels

Stroma
Nucleus of
oogonia
Late Primary
Follicle Stage
 Sheath/Theca

Zone
Follicle Cells
Pellucida

Primary
Oocyte
Liquor
Folliculi Oocyte

Cumulus
Theca oophorus
Interna

Theca
Perivitelline
Externa
Space
Capsule
Atretic Follicle
ADDITIONAL IMAGES
(Human Ovary)
 Vein

Artery
Graafian Follicle
Cumulus oophorus
 Comparison of the Female and
Male Reproductive Systems
• Both system have primary sex organs
called _______
• Ovaries in the female
• Testes in the male
• Gonads produce sex cells called _______
• Oocytes in the female
• Sperm in the male
• Both systems have ducts to transport
gametes from gonads to site of fertilization
 Ovaries
• Each ovary is surrounded by an epithelial layer
of simple cuboidal cells called the _______
epithelium
• Deep to the germinal epithelium is a connective
tissue capsule called the tunica albuginea
• Deep to this layer, the ovary can be divided into
an outer _______ and inner _______
• The cortex contains ovarian follicles and the
medulla contains connective tissue, blood
vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves
 Stages of Follicle Development
Within an Ovary

Figure 28.4a
 Ovarian Follicles
• Within the cortex of the ovary are
thousands of _______ follicles
• Ovarian follicles consist of an oocyte
surrounded by _______ cells
• There are several different types of
ovarian follicles, each representing a
different stage of development
 Ovarian Follicles
• Follicles undergo distinct stages of
development as follows:
1. _______ follicle
2. _______ follicle
3. _______ follicle
4. _______ follicle
5. _______ luteum
6. _______ albicans
 Ovarian Follicles
• _______ follicles are the most primitive
type, consisting of a primary oocyte
surrounded by a single layer of squamous
cells

Figure 28.4b
 Ovarian Follicles
• A _______ follicle consists of a primary
oocyte surrounded by a single layer of
cuboidal cells

Figure 28.4c
 Ovarian Follicles
• A _______ follicle contains a primary oocyte,
many layers of granulosa cells, and a fluid-
filled space called an antrum
• The antrum contains serous fluid that
increases in volume as ovulation nears
• Two protective structures surround the primary
oocyte:
1. _______ pellucida
2. _______ radiata
 Ovarian Follicles
• A _______ follicle is also called a mature
follicle or a Graafian follicle
• Contains a secondary oocyte surrounded
by the zona pellucida and the corona
radiata, an enlarged antrum, and many
layers of follicle cells
 Ovarian Follicles
• Following the rupture of the vesicular
follicle and the expulsion of the oocyte
(ovulation), the remnants of the follicle
(minus the oocyte) become the corpus
luteum
• The corpus luteum secretes _______ and
_______, which stimulate the growth of
the uterine endometrium