Initial and cyclic recruitment of ovarian follicles
Abstract
Mammalian ovaries consist of follicles as basic functional units. The total number of ovarian follicles is determined early in life, and the depletion of this pool leads to reproductive senescence. Each follicle develops to either ovulate or, more likely, to undergo degeneration. The dynamics of ovarian follicle development have interested endocrinologists and developmental biologists for many years. With the advent of assisted reproductive techniques in humans, the possibility of regulating follicle development in vivo and in vitro has gained clinical relevance. In this review, we focus upon key branching points during the development of ovarian follicles as well as factors involved in determining the eventual destiny of individual follicles. We discuss inconsistencies in the literature regarding the definitions of follicle recruitment and selection and propose to name the two major steps of follicle development as initial and cyclic recruitment, respectively. Because some of these disparities have arisen due to differences in the animal systems studied, we also compare the development of the ovarian follicles of both humans and rats. We also review the status of knowledge of several puzzling clinical issues that may provide important clues toward unlocking the mechanisms of follicle development.
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Initial recruitment of follicles does not depend on gonadotropins, while the growth of cohorts of larger follicles relies on a stimulatory effect of FSH.
“While the initial recruitment of follicles does not depend on gonadotropins (7, 8), the growth of cohorts of larger follicles relies on a stimulatory effect of FSH.”
From Mathematical Modeling and Simulation Provides Evidence for New Strategies of Ovarian Stimulation (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
LH and FSH are responsible for follicular estradiol production; LH stimulates androstenedione production, which is the substrate for the FSH stimulated aromatase reaction producing estradiol.
“The gonadodropins LH and FSH are responsible for follicular estradiol production. LH stimulates androstenedione production, which is the substrate for the FSH stimulated aromatase reaction producing estradiol (8, 11, 12).”
From Mathematical Modeling and Simulation Provides Evidence for New Strategies of Ovarian Stimulation (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
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“While the initial recruitment of follicles does not depend on gonadotropins (7, 8), the growth of cohorts of larger follicles relies on a stimulatory effect of FSH.”
BackgroundFollicular competition in cows: the selection of dominant follicles as a synergistic effect
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- Authors
- McGee, E. A., & Hsueh, A. J. W.
- Affiliations
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hsueh, Aaron J. W.
- ORCID
- Hsueh, Aaron J. W.
- Venue
- Endocrine Reviews
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2000-04-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 200-214
- ISSN
- 0163-769X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7189
- OpenAlex
- W2117082199
- Cited by
- 1,771
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 83 · 2024: 108 · 2023: 94 · 2022: 133 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 83 · 2018: 89 · 2017: 65 · 2016: 65 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 86 · 2013: 90 · 2012: 79
- FWCI
- 6.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Endocrine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 31398, K12-HD084908, U54HD031398)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Keywords
- ovarian follicle development, follicle recruitment, follicle selection, follicle degeneration, ovulation, reproductive aging, assisted reproduction
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Female, Follicular Atresia, Ovarian Follicle, Humans, Ovulation, Pregnancy, Reproduction
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