Apoptosis in the human ovary
TE Vaskivuo, JS Tapanainen - Reproductive biomedicine online, 2003 - Elsevier
Programmed cell death or apoptosis is an essential component of human ovarian function
and development. During early fetal life approximately 7× 106 oocytes are formed in the
human ovary. However, the number of oocytes is dramatically reduced already before birth
through apoptotic cell death. In reproductive life, a number of primordial follicles start
growing during each menstrual cycle. Usually only one will ovulate and the fate of the rest of
the follicles is atresia through the mechanism of apoptosis. Ultimately, only around 400 …
and development. During early fetal life approximately 7× 106 oocytes are formed in the
human ovary. However, the number of oocytes is dramatically reduced already before birth
through apoptotic cell death. In reproductive life, a number of primordial follicles start
growing during each menstrual cycle. Usually only one will ovulate and the fate of the rest of
the follicles is atresia through the mechanism of apoptosis. Ultimately, only around 400 …
