QUANTITATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE FOLLICULAR SYSTEM IN WOMEN

Abstract

The ovaries of 26 women dying suddenly or accidentally, add aged from 18 to 38 yrs. were serially sectioned and studied for follicular development. Evidence of follicular growth was obtained from the number of small and of large follicles, correlated with the stage of the sexual cycle at death. Degeneration is found in follicles below 1 mm. Two growth phases for small follicles occur, at the end of the proliferative phase and a smaller one at mid-secretory phase. After each there is a wave of degeneration. The first phase may be due to release FSH during formation of the main follicle. The 2d may be due to inhibition of LH by the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum, with resulting escape from the pituitary inhibition and release of FSH.