Ovarian Cycle

OVARIAN CYCLE / OVULATION
DR. BRANCH
COMPARISON OF GAMETES
Egg Sperm
1. Immotile 1. Motile
2. Large 2. Small
3. Just 1 kind of normal oocyte: 3. Two kinds of normal sperm:
• 23, X • 23, X
• 23, Y
LESSON OBJECTIVES
• To understand the steps involved in oogenesis

• The student after completing this module should know the stages of
development of the oocyte
• The student should also be able to relate the previous class on
meiosis to oogenesis
OVARIAN CYCLE
• At the beginning of each ovarian cycle, 15 to 20 follicles are stimulated

to grow under the influence of Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH)
• FSH is not really responsible for the development of the primordial
follicles. It instead keeps the follicles from dying and becoming atretic.
• Under normal conditions, only one of these follicles reaches full
maturity, and only one oocyte is discharged; the others degenerate
and become atretic.
• In the next cycle, another group of primary follicles is recruited, and
again, only one follicle reaches maturity.
OVARIAN CYCLE
• When a follicle becomes atretic, the oocyte and surrounding follicular

cells degenerate and are replaced by connective tissue, forming a
corpus atreticum.
• FSH also stimulates maturation of follicular (granulosa) cells
surrounding the oocyte.
• In turn, proliferation of these cells is mediated by growth differentiation
factor 9, a member of the transforming growth factor-B (TGF-B) family.
OVARIAN CYCLE
• Oestrogen is made from testosterone

• Theca interna produce androstenodione and testosterone and
granulosa cells convert these hormones to oestrogen
EFFECTS OF ESTROGEN
As a result of this estrogen production:

1. The uterine endometrium enters the follicular or proliferative
phase.
2. Thinning of the cervical mucus occurs to allow passage of sperm.
3. The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is stimulated to secrete LH.
EFFECTS OF LUTEINIZING
HORMONE
At midcycle, there is an LH surge that:
1. Elevates concentrations of maturation promoting factor, causing
oocytes to complete meiosis I and initiate meiosis II
2. Stimulates production of progesterone by follicular stromal cells
(luteinization)
3. Causes follicular rupture and ovulation
LH AND OVULATION
• The high concentration of LH increases
collagenase activity, resulting in
digestion of collagen fibers surrounding
the follicle.
• Prostaglandin levels also increase in
response to the LH surge and cause local
muscular contractions in the ovarian
wall.
• Those contractions extrude the oocyte,
which together with its surrounding
granulosa cells from the region of the
cumulus oophorus breaks free
(ovulation) and floats out of the ovary
CORONA RADIATA
• Some of the cumulus
oophorus cells then rearrange
themselves around the zona
pellucida to form the corona
radiata
CLINICAL CORRELATION:
MITTELSCHMERZ
• Mittelschmerz [German for “middle pain”] because it
normally occurs near the middle of the menstrual cycle.
• Ovulation is also generally accompanied by a rise in basal
temperature.
• Some women fail to ovulate because of a low
concentration of gonadotropins.
• In these cases, administration of an agent to stimulate
gonadotropin release, and hence ovulation, can be employed.
• Although such drugs are effective, they often produce multiple
ovulations so that the likelihood of multiple pregnancies is 10
times higher in these women than in the general population.
AFTER OVULATION: CORPUS
LUTEUM
• After ovulation, granulosa cells remaining in the wall of the ruptured
follicle, together with cells from the theca interna, are vascularized by
surrounding vessels.
• Under the influence of LH, these cells develop a yellowish pigment
and change into lutein cells, which form the corpus luteum and
secrete estrogens and progesterone.
• Progesterone, together with some estrogen, causes the uterine
mucosa to enter the progestational or secretory stage in preparation
for implantation of the embryo.
OOCYTE TRANSPORT
• Fimbrae!
• Once the oocyte is in the uterine
tube, it is propelled by peristaltic
muscular contractions of the tube
and by cilia in the tubal mucosa
• The rate of transport is regulated by
the endocrine status during and after
ovulation.
• In humans, the fertilized oocyte
reaches the uterine lumen in
approximately 3 to 4 days.
NO FERTILIZATON: CORPUS
ALBICANS
• If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum reaches maximum
development approximately 9 days after ovulation.
• Corpus luteum shrinks and forms fibrotic scar tissue the corpus
albicans.
• Simultaneously, progesterone production decreases, precipitating
menstrual bleeding.
CORPUS LUTEUM OF PREGNANCY
• If the oocyte is fertilized, degeneration of the corpus luteum is

prevented by human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone secreted by
the syncytiotrophoblast of the developing embryo.
• The corpus luteum continues to grow and forms the corpus luteum of
pregnancy (corpus luteum graviditatis).
CORPUS LUTEUM OF PREGNANCY
• By the end of the third month, this structure may be one-third to one-
half of the total size of the ovary.
• Yellowish luteal cells continue to secrete progesterone until the end
of the fourth month
• Thereafter, they regress slowly as secretion of progesterone by the
trophoblastic component of the placenta becomes adequate for
maintenance of pregnancy.
• Removal of the corpus luteum of pregnancy before the fourth
month usually leads to abortion.
Question 1
• Where are the luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone
produced?
A. Hypothalamus
B. Anterior pituitary
C. Posterior pituitary
D. Adrenal glands
Question 2
• In a normal 28 day menstrual cycle, when would you expect the LH
surge to occur?
A. Days 8-10
B. Days 11-13
C. Days 14-16
D. Days 17-19
Question 3
• Which hormone is the corpus luteum responsible for producing?
A. Oestrogen
B. Follicle stimulating hormone
C. Progesterone
D. Luteinizing hormone
Question 4
• Which of the following symptoms indicate that a woman is about
to ovulate?
A. Decrease in basal body temperature
B. Increase in basal body temperature
References
• Sadler, T.W (2019). Langman’s Medical Embryology, 14 th Ed. 3:34-37
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OVARIAN CYCLE / OVULATION

• To understand the steps involved in oogenesis

• At the beginning of each ovarian cycle, 15 to 20 follicles are stimulated

• When a follicle becomes atretic, the oocyte and surrounding follicular

• Oestrogen is made from testosterone

As a result of this estrogen production:

• If the oocyte is fertilized, degeneration of the corpus luteum is

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