OOGENESIS AND

THE OVARIAN CYCLE

Prepared by
Angelbert R. Bacongco
Justin Rhea M. Bandiola
OOGENESIS
the process whereby oogonia differentiate into mature oocytes

Oogonia – differentiate from primordial germ cells (PGCs)

Primary oocytes – formed before birth and mature at puberty

mitotic mitotic
division division
4th month
Oogonia continue to rapidly
divide

5th month
~7 million oogonia (maximum)
Many oogonia and primary
oocytes degenerate and
become atretic
7th month
Majority of the oogonia are
transformed into primary
oocytes in prophase of meiosis I
Newborn
Primordial follicles are left

Primordial Follicle
Primary oocyte in the diplotene
stage of prophase, surrounded
by a layer of flat follicular
epithelial cells

Diplotene Stage
Resting stage during prophase
that is characterized by a lacy
network of chromatin
Primary oocytes remain arrested in prophase and do not finish
their first meiotic division before puberty is reached.

Oocyte Maturation Inhibitor (OMI)

Small peptide secreted by follicular cells which produce the
arrested stage of primary oocytes

~600,000-800,000 – primary oocytes at birth

40,000 – puberty
500 – ovulated

As maternal age increases, the risk of having children with

chromosomal aberrations also increases, as primary oocytes
become more vulnerable to damage as they age.
Maturation of a Follicle
With each ovarian cycle, 15-20 follicles begin to develop under
the influence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), but only
one reaches maturity

Primary or Pre-antral Stage

Antral (Vesicular Stage) Graafian Follicle
(Mature Vesicular Stage)
LH (Luteinizing Hormone) Surge
Induces the preovulatory growth phase upon the maturation
of the secondary follicle.
Oocyte completes meiosis I and meiosis II is initiated
OVARIAN CYCLE
Regular monthly sexual cycle controlled
by the hypothalamus

Gonadotropins: FSH & LH

stimulate and control cyclic changes in
the ovary

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Influences stimulation of the growth of
primordial follicles
Stimulates the maturation of follicular
(granulosa) cells surrounding the oocyte
Granulosa and theca interna cells
together produce estrogen
Theca interna cells
produce androstenedione and testosterone
Granulosa cells
convert them to estrone and 17 -estradiol

Estrogen production:
The uterine endometrium enters the follicular or proliferative
phase
Thinning of the cervical mucus occurs to allow the passage of
sperm, and;
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is stimulated to
release LH
LH Surge at midcycle:
1) Oocyte completes meiosis I
and initiates meiosis II
2) Stimulates production of
progesterone by follicular
cells
3) Follicular rupture and
ovulation
Ovulation
release of a secondary oocyte
from the ovaries
LH surge  increased
collagenase activity  digestion
of collagen fibers surrounding
the follicle
LH surge  increased
prostaglandin levels  local
muscular contractions in the
ovarian wall  oocyte with its
surrounding granulosa cells
extruded to float out of the
ovary
Ovulation
Mittelschmerz (German =
“middle pain”): a slight pain
felt by women during
ovulation
Rise in basal temperature

Failure to ovulate:
 Due to low gonadotropin
concentrations
 Administration of drugs for
gonadotropin release often
produce multiple ovulations
Corpus Luteum
“Yellow body”
Formed from a ruptured
follicle after ovulation
Secretes estrogen and
progesterone

Estrogen & Progesterone

cause the uterine mucosa to
enter the progestational or
secretory stage in
preparation for embryo
implantation
Oocyte Transport
Fimbriae sweep over the
surface of the ovary and
catch the oocyte that are
released from the ovary
In the tube, the oocyte move
towards the uterine cavity by
the contraction of the tube
and propelled by cilia
Fertilized egg reach uterine
lumen for 3-4 days
If fertilization does not occur:
On day 9 of ovulation, corpus luteum shrinks, degenerate and
form a mass of fibrotic scar tissue (corpus albicans)  reduce
progesterone level  menstrual bleed

If fertilization occur:
Degeneration of corpus luteum is prevented by hCG (human
chorionic gonadotropin)
CL continues to grow  corpus luteum graviditatis  secretes
progesterone until 4th month of pregnancy
CL regress slowly as secretion of progesterone by the
trophoblastic component of placenta becomes adequate for
maintenance of pregnancy