Oocyte size and intrafollicular position in polyovular follicles in rabbits
Healthy follicles with 2–24 oocytes were observed in adult rabbit ovaries during all phases of folliculogenesis from primary to preovulatory follicles. Most follicles contained 2–3 oocytes which developed according to their topographical situation in the follicle. The central oocyte in a normal topo...
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Published in | Journal of reproduction & fertility Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 15 - 25 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Society for Reproduction and Fertility
01.01.1988
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Healthy follicles with 2–24 oocytes were observed in adult rabbit ovaries during all phases of folliculogenesis from primary
to preovulatory follicles. Most follicles contained 2–3 oocytes which developed according to their topographical situation
in the follicle. The central oocyte in a normal topographical situation has an almost normal growth and development up to
metaphase II and cumulus expansion. The peripheral oocytes grow more slowly: most do not attain the normal size or resume
meiosis and remain surrounded by ordinary granulosa cells. When the number of oocytes is higher than 3, the peripheral oocytes
develop even more slowly, as do the central ones. It demonstrates the necessity for the oocyte to occupy a certain position
inside the follicle and to reach a size which allows resumption of meiosis; the cumulus responds only to oocytes of normal
size and position. We suggest that, despite the relative frequency of binovular follicles, fertilization of two oocytes originating
from one follicle is unlikely.
Keywords : polyovular follicles; rabbit; oocyte size; oocyte position; fertilizability |
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ISSN: | 1470-1626 0022-4251 1741-7899 |
DOI: | 10.1530/jrf.0.0820015 |