Primordial follicle

- Primordial germ cells migrate from yolk sac to gonad and continues to mitotically divide and by
5th moth of IUL, they develop into primary oocyte (oogonium)
- The primary oocyte is surrounded by the spindle shaped/flatted cells called follicular cells, which
are derived from the surrounding stroma
- The primary oocyte surrounded by follicular cells is called primordial follicle. They are about 7
millions during formation but only 300 thousand remains during puberty. Only 450-480 of them
are released throughout the normal reproductive span. Rest of the others undergo degeneration
most importantly through follicular atresia
- Thus, primordial follicles represent the ovarian reserve of follicles
- Due to oocyte maturation inhibiting factor from follicular cells, the primary oocyte is arrested at
diplotene of prophase 1 of meiosis
- The follicular cells act like Sertoli cells which supply the nutrition to ova.
- Some primordial follicles thus, can survive upto 50yrs too! (i.e., till menopause)
- The primordial follicles aren’t surrounded by vasculature

Primary and Secondary follicles

- The flattened follicular cells become cuboidal and called as granulosa cell. The primary oocyte
surrounded by single layer of granulosa cell is called Primary follicle.
- During primary follicle, the oocyte enlarges (to synthesize and store proteins) and produce zona
pellucida which separates oocyte from the granulosa cell. However, the connection/
communication between the two continues via gap junction.
- The single layered granulosa cells begin to proliferate. The primary oocyte surrounded by
multiple layers of granulosa cells is called secondary follicle.
- The surrounding stromal cells align parallel to the follicular cells (secondary follicle) and they are
called theca cells. The theca cells are again of 2 types- theca externa and theca interna
- Theca externa is more like stroma however, the theca interna is epitheliod and similar to Leydig
cells.
- The granulosa cells express FSH receptor. (more specifically, during primary follicle) But the
changes/ early follicular growth are not due to FSH
- The follicles move from outer cortex to inner cortex closer to the vasculature. The paracrine
mechanisms initiates angiogenesis and now the follicles become exposed to endocrine systems
too!
- From inside to outside there are 5 layers:
 Oocyte
 Zona Pellucida
 Granulosa cells
 Basal lamina
 Theca cells- Theca interna and externa
Antral follicle

- Small fluid filled spaces are seen within the granulosa cells which form early antral follicle
- With time, in about 45-50 days, the small spaces coalesce to form large antrum and such follicles
are called antral follicles.
- By this time, granulosa cells are also multiplied by 100s of layer
- The antrum divides granulosa cells into 2 groups- Mural granulosa and cumulus granulosa
- Mural granulosa surrounds the follicle, is highly steroidogenic and in contact with the basal
lamina
- Cumulus granulosa surrounds the oocyte, is released along with oocyte, and helps fimbriae to
capture oocyte. It is in contact with oocyte via gap junction
- The antral follicles are dependent upon FSH for the growth and development
- The oocyte grows rapidly in the early antral follicle and slowly in larger follicle. During this time,
it synthesizes sufficient amount of cell cycle component so that it CAN complete meiosis 1
- As already discussed, the antral follicles are dependent on FSH for growth. FSH helps to express
LH receptor in granulosa cells and aromatase enzyme (CYP19) and inhibin.
- The theca cells synthesize androstenedione which is converted by aromatase into estradiol. The
elevating estrogens and Inhibin -ve feedback the FSH release and +ve feedbacks the LH for LH
surge.
- The follicle in which maximum FSH has entered antrum will develop as dominant follicle/
graafian follicle (coz -ve feedback le garda FSH ghatx and antrum are dependent on FSH for
growth. So, -ve feedback hunu agadi jun follicle ma dherai FSH hunx, that will survive and
develop as graafian follicle.)
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500020/