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Primordial follicular assembly in humans – revisited

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2008

A. Maheshwari  and
P. A. Fowler
A. Maheshwari*
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Maternity hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZL, Scotland, UK.
P. A. Fowler
Affiliation:
Centre for Reproductive Endocrinology and Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK.
*
All correspondence to: A. Maheshwari. University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Maternity hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZL, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 1224 554976. e-mail: Abha.maheshwari@abdn.ac.uk
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Summary

Recent interest in the initial phases of ovarian follicular formation and development has lead to a number of publications in this area, most of which address the autocrine and paracrine factors involved in primordial follicle activation to primary follicle. Primordial follicle assembly (first step in follicle formation) determines the lifetime supply of primordial follicles and remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Despite a number of recent articles that are concentrating on immuno-histochemistry, basic steps in the process are not clear. Hence, we feel it is time to take a step back and see what is available in the literature and identify the gaps in which future research about primordial follicle assembly in humans needs to be directed.

Keywords

Fetal ovaryFolliculogenesisHumanOvaryPrimordial follicle assembly
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , November 2008 , pp. 285 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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