OOGENESIS

Process in which oogonia differentiate into mature oocytes

Maturation of oocytes begins at birth

Once the primordial germ cells reach the ovary,they differentiate into oogonia

They undergo mitosis and by the end of the third month,they are arranged in clusters
surrounded by flat epithelial cells(Follicular cells)

Some oogonia are arrested in prophase 1 (Primary oocytes)

By the fifth month,the cells have multiplied in their number to reach maximum number then cell
death begins and many degenerate and become atretic and by the seventh month,most of them
have degenerated except for a few on the surface

Surviving cells enter the prophase of meiosis 1 and are surrounded by a layer of follicular
epithelial cells

Primordial follicle---It is a primary oocyte surrounded by flat follicular epithelial cells

Maturation of oocytes continues at puberty

Near the time of birth, all primary oocytes have entered the prophase of meiosis 1 but instead of
proceeding to metaphase,they are arrested and enter the diplotene stage and finish the first
meiotic division only when puberty is reached

The arrested state is produced by OMI(Oocyte Maturation Inhibitor),a peptide secreted by the
follicular cells

Primordial follicles continue to grow and the surrounding follicular cells change from flat to
cuboidal and proliferate to produce a stratified layer of granulosa cells(Primary follicle)

Granulosa cells rests on the basement separating them from the surrounding ovarian connective
tissues that form the Theca Folliculi,which organise themselves into Theca Interna and Theca
Externa

Granulosa cells and the oocyte secrete the Zona Pellucida

Also,small finger-like processes of follicular cells extend across the Zone Pellucida and
interdigitate with the microvilli of plasma membrane of the oocyte.These processes are
important for the transfer of materials from follicular cells to the oocyte

Fluid-filled spaces appear between granulosa cells.Coalescion of these spaces forms the
antrum,and the follicle is termed as a vesicular or an antral follicle

Initially the antrum is crescent shaped but enlarges

Granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte are intact and referred to as Cumulus Oophorus

During each ovarian cycle ,only one oocyte develops to maturity,the others degenerate and
become atretic,then a surge in luteinizing hormone induces preovulatory growth

Meiosis 1 is then completed and the cell divides into two unequal cells each with 23 double
structured chromosomes

One cell,the secondary oocyte receives most of the cytoplasm,whereas the other,the polar
body ,receives practically none and lies in the perivitelline space

The cell then begins meiosis 2 and arrests at metaphase 3 hours before ovulation.This phase is
completed only when the oocyte is fertilised.