Name: ______________________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Section: ____________________ Schedule: ________________

Exercise 5: Oogenesis in Mammals

The production of ova from the oogonia is called oogenesis. This is the counterpart of spermatogenesis in
the female animal. Early stages of oogenesis occur in the ovary.

During embryonic stage, mother oogonia undergo mitosis to produce daughter oogonia. After parturition,
mitosis stops while the daughter oogonia enter the prophase stage of meiosis and become the primary
oocyte. Completion of the first meiotic division occurs when the animal reaches sexual maturity and
begins to cycle. At estrus, the suspended/delayed first meiotic division is completed and the primary
oocyte finally divides into a secondary oocyte and a first polar body (generally just prior to ovulation).

Meanwhile each primary oocyte in the ovary is invested with supporting cell called follicular cells. These
cells like the oogonia are derived from the primordial sex cells which in adults comprise the germinal
epithelium of the ovary. The follicular cells multiply resulting in the development of the ovarian follicle.

Objective:
At the end of the class, the student should be able to identify different structures in a section of an ovary
and thereby knowing their contributions in the process of oogenesis.

Materials:
Compound microscope
Prepared slides of an ovary
Coloring materials

Procedure:

1. Borrow the microscope from the laboratory technician.

2. Secure prepared slides of an ovary from the laboratory instructor.
3. Set the microscope. Observe and identify the different structures from the prepared slides under LPO
and HPO.
a. Germinal epithelium – epithelial covering of the ovary consisting of a single layer of cuboidal cells.
b. Tunica albuginea – a narrow dense fibrous layer of connective tissue immediately beneath the
germinal epithelium.
c. Cortex – region of the ovary containing the follicles at various stages of development.
d. Medulla – central region containing blood vessels
e. Stroma – interstitial connective tissue of the ovary filling the areas not occupied by the ovarian
follicles and blood vessels.
f. Follicles – nest of cells enclosing the developing primary oocyte. There are several types of ovarian
follicles based on their sizes. The follicles grow by mitotic division of the follicular cells.
g. Primordial follicle – a small follicle consisting of a large primary oocyte surrounded by a single
layer of flat follicular cells. This follicle is located at the periphery of the ovary.
h. Primary follicle – a little larger than primordial follicle and consists of a primary oocyte surrounded
by a single layer of cuboidal cells.
 i. Growing follicles – follicles of various sizes which differ from primary follicle in the following
manner:
I. Two to several layers of cuboidal-shaped follicular cells.
II. Appearance of an anthrum as a cleft or cavity within the layers of follicular cells by
coalescence of intercellular spaces.
III. Liquor folliculi – the fluid content of anthrum secreted by the follicle cells, seen as light pink
granular coagulum,
j. Graafian or mature follicle – a very large follicle bulging from the surface of the ovary; consist of
the following structure from inward to outward.
i. Primary oocyte
ii. Vitelline membrane – cell membrane of the primary oocyte.
iii. Zona pellucida – seen as a sky blue layer of connective tissue.
iv. Corona radiate – a single layer of columnar follicle cells located immediately adjacent to the
zona pellucida. At ovulation the corona radiata is ovulated with the oocyte still with the zona
pellucida.
v. Cumulus oophorus – a mound follicle cells forming a hillock external to the corona radiata
protruding into the anthrum.
vi. Anthrum – space/cavity containing liquor folliculi.
vii. Stratum granulosum – a thick layer of follicle cells bordering the anthrum exclusive of the
cumulus oophorus.
viii. Basement membrane – external limiting membrane of the stratum granulosum.
ix. Theca or capsule – two-layered envelope enclosing the mature follicle. The capsule consists
of:
1. Theca interna – inner layer of the capsule immediately outside the stratum granulosum,
consisting of a layer of large cells with oval nuclei.
2. Theca externa – outer layer of the capsule made up of spindle-shaped cells and
connective tissue fibers arranged around the ovarian follicle.
4. Illustrate the different structures of the ovary observed and label.
5. Label the different structures on the diagram below.
Observations/Illustrations/Diagrams:

Mammalian ovary showing the various stages of follicular and luteal development.

Cat ovarian cortex (LPO)

 Primordial follicles (HPO)

Questions for research:

1. Which cells secrete estrogen?

2. What oogenic cell is contained in the primary follicle?

3. What structures secrete the zona pellucida?

4. What do you call the fluid contained in the antrum?

References: