Development of the human ovary from birth to sexual maturity

Abstract

The present study of the maturation of the human ovary is the outgrowth of a former paper (Simkins, '28) in which the development of the gonads was traced to the time of birth. There shall be a slight overlapping of this study and the former one, because birth itself has no discernible effect upon gonogenesis, or even upon the ovary as a whole. The important events in the history of the human ovary are: first, the origin of the ventromedian thickening on the mesonephric body in embryos of 7 mm. Secondly, the differentiation of the indifferent gonad into a testis or an ovary during the second month. Thirdly, the cessation of mitotic division of the gonocytes during the sixth fetal month. And, fourthly, the growth of the ovary from the sixth fetal month to sexual maturity, about the fourteenth year. The present paper shall be limited to that fourth phase. MATERIALThe series of gonads upon which this study is based is made up of sixty ovaries from the fifth fetal month to birth; ten from birth to the end of the first year, two between birth and the first year, two at two years, one at three years, one at seven years, two at eight years, two at nine, one at thirteen, and three at fourteen. (A partial list, with measurements, is given in table 1.) 'Aided by a grant from the National Besearch Council. 465T H E AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ANATOMY. VOL. 51, XO. 2

Ovarian Stem Cell Niche and Follicular Renewal in Mammals

“…It does not begin to form until the end of intrauterine life (Motta and Makabe, 1986) or several months after birth (Simkins, 1932). Even then it is not a true membrane, but merely a collection of loose connective-tissue cells (Simkins, 1932). In contrast to the OSC, supposedly the source of a variety of ovarian tumors (Auersperg et al, 2001), the TA has not been well studied.…”

“…It does not begin to form until the end of intrauterine life (Motta and Makabe, 1986) or several months after birth (Simkins, 1932). Even then it is not a true membrane, but merely a collection of loose connective-tissue cells (Simkins, 1932).…”

Ultra-sonografia pélvica em 140 meninas normais pré e pós-puberais

“…O útero permanece inalterado até os 8-10 anos e os ovários aumentam a partir dos 6-8 anos, mas tornam-se progressivamente maiores com a puberdadé, como também tem sido descrito por outros (6,8,(13)(14)(15)(16). Na infância, o útero e os ovários apresentam um discreto aumento com a idade, então, podemos considerar como normal pré-puberal os volumes até 2DP da média, isto é, até 2,5 cm 3 e 2 cm 3 , respectivamente.…”

“…Entre 6-8 anos o hormônio folículo estimulante (FSH) e o estrogênio se elevam, há mais folículos secundários e os folículos são maiores (4-8mm), mas entre 8-11 anos grandes folículos (6-12 mm) estão presentes (5,6,14). Na puberdade os ovários tornam-se maiores e periodicamente alguns folículos amadurecem, mas somente um ovula, enquanto os demais degeneram-se e tornamse atrésicos (13,15). Após os 14 anos há poucos folícu-los primários e, de fato, o ovário encontra-se sexualmente maduro, exceto pelo fato de que o ovário adulto contém os corpos lúteo e albicans (15).…”

“…Na puberdade os ovários tornam-se maiores e periodicamente alguns folículos amadurecem, mas somente um ovula, enquanto os demais degeneram-se e tornamse atrésicos (13,15). Após os 14 anos há poucos folícu-los primários e, de fato, o ovário encontra-se sexualmente maduro, exceto pelo fato de que o ovário adulto contém os corpos lúteo e albicans (15).…”