1. Female Reproductive system:
Ovary
Uterus
Mammary glands

2. Ovary
- hormonal regulation -
- follicular development
- Graafian follicle
- corpus luteum

3. Ovary
- covered by low cuboidal epithelium (germinal epi.)
- cortex - stroma with fibroblasts
- ovarian follicles--> development and atresia

4. Ovarian follicles
- primordial follicle
- primary follicle
- secondary follicle
- Graafian follicle
- corpus luteum

5. Primordial follicle - primary oocyte (prophase or meiosis I)
and simple squamous follicular cells

6. Primary follicle - enlarged oocyte (nucleus up to 150 mm)
- simple cuboidal follicular cells
--> stratified cuboidal --> granulosa cells / bl
Zona pellucida
During follicular dev., gap junctions between
follicular cell filopodia and oocyte microvilli.
Stroma cells --> theca interna -vascularized,
secrete androstenedione
--> theca externa (fibrous)

7. Secondary follicle
- FSH stimulates granulasa cell proliferation
--> liquor folliculi between granulosa cells
--> antrum is space with coalesced liquor folliculi
--> corona radiata around oocyte
- FSH stimulates expression of LH receptors
on granulosa cells

8. Graafian follicle:
- can see on slide with unaided eye
- cumulus oophorus:
oocyte +corona radiata + attached follicular cells
LH surge
--> increased blood flow to ovaries
--> edema (leaking plasma) in theca externa
also: completion of meiosis I and then meiosis II
--> ovulation of secondary oocyte and few follicle cells

9. Corpus luteum:
Continued high LH
Collapse of remaining Graafian follicle
--> granulosa lutein cells produce progesterone
& convert androgens to estrogen
--> theca interna---> theca lutein cells
produce progesterone, androgens & estrogen
produce progesterone

10. High levels of progesterone & estrogen
--> LH and FSH secretion inhibited
--> lower FSH prevents follicular dev.
If pregnancy occurs, placenta secretes
human choriogonic hormone (HCG),
which maintains the corpus luteum.

11. Atretic follicles:
- most follicles degenerate before maturing -