OOGENESIS

Prof. Dr. Serap Arbak

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Explain the basic organs in female

reproductive system

 Define the prenatal period of oogonia

 List the stages for oocyte & follicular

maturation in postnatal life

 Define the ovulation process

 Explain the corpus luteum

 List the basic stages in uterine and ovarian

cycles

 Indicate the importance of uterine tube

following the ovulation

 Female Reproductive
System

 paired ovaries
 paired uterine tubes
 uterus
 vagina
 accessory glands
 external genitalia
 OVARY • Almond shape organ
• 3 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide
• located within the pelvis, on each
 Each ovary is attached to side of uterus
posterior surface of the • IMPORTANT TISSUE FOR
broad ligament by OOGENESIS
MESOVARIUM
 Ovary is composed of

CORTEX MEDULLA

Ovarian Connective tissue

follicles blood vessels
 Ovary

Cortex
Follicles - OOGENESIS

Medulla
high number of blood vessels
loose connective tissue
 Oogenesis

Oogenesis - maturation process

primordial germ cells mature oocytes
- begins before birth and is completed after puberty
- continuous to menopause – permanent cessation of the menses
 Oogenesis
In Embryonic life
From Primordial germ cells – Oogonia
- develop in the yolk sac endoderm
(after 1st month of gestation)
- mitotic divisions
- migrate to germinal ridges (6th week
after fertilization)
- mitotic divisions
- oogonia surrounded by follicular
epithelial cells & survive up to the time
of birth
Most of the follicles degenerate & die
Atresia
 PRIMORDIAL GERM CELLS
large sherical primitive sex cells are
ENDODERMAL in origin

 in 4th week they appear on the wall of

yolk sac

 migrate by ameboidal movement

By the 6th week are incorporated in

primary sex cords.
 Oogenesis
In Embryo

Oogonia are enlarged

Primary oocytes

enter the prophase stage of meiosis I

No primary oocytes formed after birth

Primary oocytes remain dormant until

puberty
Meiosis I
- is arrested in the diplotene stage by
meiosis-preventing substance, produced
by the follicular cells
-
Electron micrograph of a primordial ovarian
follicle of a rat ovary (×6200). Observe the
oocyte surrounded by follicular cells.
 Oogenesis

After Puberty
Primary oocytes
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
+
meiosis inducing substances

Completion of Meiosis I

Secondary oocyte & first polar bodiesbody

Meiosis I
Secondary oocyte arrests at
metaphase of Meiosis II
Meiosis II

Ovulated

Entry of sperm triggers

completion of Meiosis II
 Oogenesis
Development & Growth of Follicle

1. 3.

2.

4.
Follicular development has 3 phases:
 Primordialfollicles
 Growing follicles

 Primary and Secondary follicles

 Mature or GRAAFIAN follicles

The proliferative activity of the follicular cells is due to the

signaling molecule activin produced by the primary oocyte.
 Oogenesis

Primordial Follicles
- most primitive follicles !!!
- composed of a primary oocyte surrounded
by a single layer of flattened follicular cells

Follicular cells are separated from the

connective tissue stroma by a basal
lamina.
 Oogenesis
PRIMARY FOLLICLES

Early primary follicular stage

•primary oocyte enlarges
•surrounding follicular cells also proliferate &
become cuboidal
• formation of extracellular coat

• ZONA PELLUCIDA
Homogeneous glycoprotein layer
 Oogenesis

Late primary follicular stage

follicular cells proliferate

Stratification - forming several layers of cells

Stratum Granulosum

granulosa cells surrounding the

primary oocyte
 Oogenesis

Late primary follicular stage

granulosa cells proliferate

Cortical stromal cells arranged in a compressed layer

at the outer periphery of the granulosa cells

form a connective tissue layer, surrounding the

follicle

THECA FOLLICULI
 Oogenesis
SECONDARY (ANTRAL)
FOLLICULAR STAGE
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) released from
the anterior pituitary

GGgGranulosa cells continue to proliferate

several intercellular spaces develop within the

mass of granulosa cells and filled with a fluid
Liquor folliculi

↑ in fluid production and individual droplets of liquor

folliculi combined to form a single, fluid-filled
chamber, Antrum
a small group of granulosa cells surrounding
the primary oocyte project out from the wall
into the fluid-filled antrum, forms
Cumulus oophorus
 Oogenesis
SECONDARY (ANTRAL)
FOLLICULAR STAGE
Single layer of granulosa cells that
immediately surrounds the primary oocyte
cumulus oophorus
Corona radiata

The theca folliculi begins to segregate itself

into two distinct layers:
Theca interna - composed mostly of a richly
vascularized cellular layer
Theca externa - composed mostly of fibrous
connective tissue
 Oogenesis

GRAAFIAN (MATURE) FOLLICLE

Much more proliferation of the granulosa
cells and formation of liquor folliculi

↑ in size
formation of a mature follicle
(~ 2.5 cm by the time of ovulation)

• Stratum granulosum becomes thinner

• Antrum ↑ in size
From granulosa layer

• a distinct cumulus oophorus, corona radiata,

and follicular cells
•The oocyte is displaced to one side of the antrum
and surrounded by layer of granulosa cells- corona
radiata
Oogenesis
Oogenesis
 Ovulation
The process of releasing the secondary oocyte from the Graafian follicle.
X FSH release Stigma (appeared on the bulge on the
Estrogen
LH surface of ovary) balloon out

Stigma ruptures

intrafollicular pressure,
contraction of smooth
muscle in theca externa,
enzymatic digestion of
follicular wall

FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone

LH: Luteinizing hormone
 Ovulation
Ampulla
Isthmus
Uterus

Infundibulum

DURING OVULATION,
SECONDARY
OOCYTE IS AT
METAPHASE STAGE
OF THE SECOND
MEIOTIC DIVISION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcVC3TFI7fQ
 Ovulation
Ampulla
Isthmus
Uterus

Infundibulum

DURING OVULATION,
SECONDARY
OOCYTE IS AT
METAPHASE STAGE
OF THE SECOND
MEIOTIC DIVISION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcVC3TFI7fQ
Oogenesis
 Oogenesis
Ovulated graafian follicle collapsed & folded
 Rupture of blood vessels
 Leakage of blood into the follicular cavity
Central clot CORPUS HEMORRHAGICUM

Clot is removed by phagocytes

high LH

Corpus hemorrhagicum CORPUS LUTEUM

granulosa-lutein cells (modified granulosa cells)
theca-lutein cells (modified theca interna cells)

functions as an endocrine gland

(progesterone & estrogen)

after ovulation remained maturing follicles undergo

atresia -atretic follicles - phagocytosed by macrophages
 Oogenesis

In case of no pregnancy:
degeneration of corpus luteumin appr. 8 days

corpus luteum of menstruation

invaded by fibroblasts & fibrous connective tissue
Its fate is CORPUS ALBİCANS

In case of pregnancy:
human chorionic gonadotropin secreted by placenta
maintain corpus luteum for appr. 3 months

corpus luteum of pregnancy – secretes

hormones for pregnancy
Later degenerates and replaced by corpus albicans
 Corpus luteum

Corpus luteum is formed by GRANULOSA

LUTEIN and THECA LUTEIN cells
 CORPUS LUTEUM OF PREGNANCY

estrogen and progesterone secretion and lasts

appr. 3 months

 CORPUS LUTEUM OF MENSTRUATION

 No hCH declines in 10-12 days
following ovulation
 Oogenesis

Uterine Wall
During reproductive life, endometrium has 2
layers:
 FUNCTIONAL LAYER
 Simple columnar
epithelium with ciliated
and non-ciliated cells
 Tubular glands
 Spiral arteries
 desquamated at
menstruation

 BASAL LAYER
non desquamated part and is
a reserve for restoration
 Oogenesis

Menstrual cycle & Ovarian cycle

 Oogenesis
GROWTH OF SECONDARY FOLLİCLES
TO MATURE FOLLİCLES-HORMONES

 Estrogen: inhibits FSH release, surge of

LH

 LH: completion of meiosis I, form

secondary oocyte, ovulation, formation of
corpus luteum, production of estrogen &
progesterone

 Progesterone: stimulates development of

endometrium, inhibits LH production

 Decrease in LH : degeneration of corpus

luteum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qrWlf0bXpU&feature=related
 Uterine cycle
Menstrual phase Days 1- 4
• constriction of blood vessels -
shutdown of glands
necrosis of functionalis layer of
endometrium
• dilation of weakened arteries –
rupture
• menses on Day 1
• release of functionalis layer Day 3 -
4

Proliferative (Follicular) phase

Days 4- 14
• regeneration of the lining of the
endometrium
• reconstruction of the glands,
connective tissue and coiled arteries
• renewal of the functionalis, becomes
thicker

Luteal (Secretory) phase Days

15 - 28
• thickening of the endometrium due to
edema and accumulated glycogen
MENSTRUAL
PROLIFERATIVE
PHASE
PHASE

SECRETORY
PHASE
 Oogenesis

Follicular
FSH- Zona Cells or Liquor Theca Theca
Stage Dependent Oocyte Pellucida Granulosa Folliculi Interna Externa
Primordial No Primary None Single layer None None None
follicle of flat cells

Unilaminar No Primary Present Single layer None None None

primary of cuboidal
follicle cells

Multilaminar No Primary Present; Several None Present Present

primary plasmalemm layers of
follicle a of primary follicular
oocyte forms cells (now
gap junctions called
with granulosa
filopodia of cells)
corona
radiata cells

Secondary Yes Primary Present with Spaces Accumulates Present Present

follicle gap junctions develop in spaces
between between
granulosa granulosa
cells cells

Graafian Yes, until it Primary, Present with Forms Fills the Present Present
follicle becomes the surrounded gap junctions membrana antrum
dominant by corona granulosa
follicle radiata in and cumulus
cumulus oophorus
oophorus
 REFERENCES
 Schoenwolf, Gary C.,Larsen's Human Embryology, Fifth Edition

 B M Carlson: Human Embryology and Developmental Biology, Sixth

Edition. Elsevier, 2019

 Gary C. Schoenwolf & Steven B. Bleyl & Philip R. Brauer & Philippa H.
Francis-WestLarsen's Human Embryology, Fifth Edition, Elsevier, 2015

 L. Cochard: Netter's Atlas of Human Embryology, Updated Edition,

Elsevier, 2012.

 Keith Moore T. V. N. Persaud Mark TorchiaThe Developing Human,

Clinically Oriented Embryology, 10th Edition. Elsevier, 2016
 https
://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index
.php/Ovulation_Movie

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NkLUA05ExHA