BACKGROUND This study compares the developmental capacity of gametes retrieved from the largest follicle with small follicles of a cohort in controlled ovarian stimulated cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study performed in a private assisted fertilization center included 1016 follicles collected from 96 patients who underwent intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). After folli...

The established follicle envelope of Necturus maculosus consists of a layer of follicle cells (granulosa) surrounding the developing oocyte, a layer of theca comprised of connective tissue cells, fibers, and matrix, and a layer of serosal cells. The changes in shape and fine structure of these layers during differentiation accompanying oogenesis are described. The cells and capillaries of the f...

An ovarian follicle is composed of an oocyte and surrounding theca and granulosa cells. Oocytes are stored in an arrested state within primordial follicles until they are signaled to re-initiate development by undergoing primordial-to-primary follicle transition. Previous gene bionetwork analyses of primordial follicle development identified a number of critical cytokine signaling pathways and ...

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and is characterized by chronic anovulation. Insulin resistance may be a key component of the pathogenesis of this disorder. Pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione derivative that acts by improving insulin resistance via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) pathway. Reported...

Primordial follicle assembly is a process that occurs when oocyte nests break down to form individual primordial follicles. The size of this initial pool of primordial follicles in part determines the reproductive lifespan of the female. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was identified as a potential regulatory candidate for this process in a previous microarray analysis of follicle develo...

By integrating morphometrical and endocrinological data, as well as biological effects of various molecules synthesized by the human follicle, we propose a dynamic view of the follicle growth within the human ovary. Folliculogenesis starts with entry of resting follicles into the growth phase, a process where the kit system plays a key role. Several months are required for a new growing follicl...

Ovulation is essential for the propagation of the species and involves a proteolytic degradation of the follicle wall for the release of the fertilizable oocyte. However, the precise mechanisms for regulating these proteolytic events are largely unknown. Work from our lab and others have shown that there are several parallels between Drosophila and mammalian ovulation at both the cellular and m...

The Notch signalling pathway is an important mediator of cell fate selection whose involvement in epidermal appendage formation is now becoming recognised. Hair follicle development and hair formation involve the co-ordinated differentiation of several different cell types in which Notch appears to have a role. We report intricate expression patterns for the Notch-1 receptor and three ligands, ...

Patterning of the Drosophila egg requires the establishment of several distinct types of somatic follicle cells, as well as interactions between these follicle cells and the oocyte. The polar cells occupy the termini of the follicle and are specified by the activation of Notch. We have investigated their role in follicle patterning by creating clones of cells mutant for the Notch modulator frin...

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of an electrocautery strategy with ovulation induction using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. SETTING Secondary and tertiary hospitals in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS 168 patients with clomiphene citrate resistant polycystic ovary syndrome: 83 were allocated elec...