What is the function of the follicles?

Abstract. The follicle plays a major role in the dual function of the ovary–oocyte maturation and release and steroidogenesis required for regulating its own growth and providing the proper environment in reproductive organs for the transport of gametes and nidation.

What is the function of the follicular cells in the ovary?

ovary and ovulation …of cells known as the follicle. The follicular wall serves as a protective casing around the egg and also provides a suitable environment for egg development. As the follicle ripens, the cell wall thickens and a fluid is secreted to surround the egg.

What are the roles of the follicle cells in the development of the oocyte?

Oocytes develop to maturity from within a follicle. These follicles are found in the outside layer of the ovaries. During each reproductive cycle, several follicles begin to develop. Typically, only one oocyte each cycle will become a mature egg and be ovulated from its follicle.

What is the relationship between an oocyte and a follicle?

Oocyte occurs inside the follicle and follicle occurs in the cortex of the ovary. Oocyte contains the haploid nucleus. Follicle is a secretory sac which surrounds the oocyte. The main difference between oocyte and follicle is their structure and function inside the ovary.

What is a mature follicle?

Each month, one follicle is selected and goes on to maturity. When this follicle has matured and grown to the right size the follicle ruptures and releases the egg, which is now ready to be fertilised. This is usually around 14 days after the beginning of the menstrual cycle.

What hormone causes follicles to mature?

The Hypothalamus and the Pituitary It is released in a rhythmic fashion every 60 to 120 minutes. GnRH stimulates the pituitary gland to produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the hormone responsible for starting follicle (egg) development and causing the level of estrogen, the primary female hormone, to rise.

Where is the mature ovarian follicle?

At the end of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, one or occasionally two (or even more) mature follicles at the surface of the ovary rupture and release the egg. The egg then enters a fallopian tube to be carried to the uterus.

What is mature follicle?

Why is oocyte maturation important?

Regulation of Mammalian Oocyte Maturation The processes encompassing oocyte maturation are essential for the transition from a gamete to an embryo competent to give rise to a healthy new individual. Moreover, these same processes represent the final stage in the generation of a highly differentiated cell, the egg.

What is a mature ovarian follicle called?

Tertiary vesicular follicles (also called “mature vesicular follicles” or “ripe vesicular follicles”) are sometimes called Graafian follicles (after Regnier de Graaf).

What hormone does the follicle produce?

The rise in follicle stimulating hormone stimulates the growth of the follicle in the ovary. With this growth, the cells of the follicles produce increasing amounts of oestradiol and inhibin.

What stimulates the release of FSH and LH?

GnRH
GnRH stimulates the pituitary gland to produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the hormone responsible for starting follicle (egg) development and causing the level of estrogen, the primary female hormone, to rise.

What is the function of follicle-stimulating hormone in males and females?

In women, this hormone stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in the ovary before the release of an egg from one follicle at ovulation. It also increases oestradiol production. In men, follicle stimulating hormone acts on the Sertoli cells of the testes to stimulate sperm production (spermatogenesis).

What is a mature follicle called?

graafian
The graafian, or mature, follicle may be up to 2.5 cm in diameter at the time of ovulation, and it protrudes from the surface of the ovary. An outer layer of theca cells and granulosa cells surround a vesicle containing fluid and the oocyte.

What happens when you have 2 mature follicles?

Every mature sized follicle could release an egg, and that egg could become fertilized. If you have two follicles, you could conceive twins.

What happens during maturation of an oocyte?

Normal female fertility relies on proper development of the oocyte. This growth culminates just prior to ovulation, when oocyte maturation occurs. Oocyte maturation refers to a release of meiotic arrest that allows oocytes to advance from prophase I to metaphase II of meiosis.

What regulates oocyte maturation?

Oocyte maturation and ovulation are regulated by the HPG axis in vertebrates, whereas most invertebrates do not have an HPG axis. Hence, invertebrate reproductive processes are regulated by HPG axis–independent systems, but many details of the underlying molecular mechanisms of these systems remain to be elucidated.

Which hormone stimulates the maturation of a primordial follicle?

follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
At sexual maturity, two hormones, produced by the pituitary gland: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenising hormone (LH) cause these primordial follicles to develop. In each ovarian cycle, about 20 primordial follicles are activated to begin maturation.

What is the function of LH and FSH hormone?

Luteinizing hormone (LH) plays a key role in gonadal function. LH in synergy with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates follicular growth and ovulation. Thus, normal follicular growth is the result of complementary action of FSH and LH.

What hormone stimulates follicle growth?

FSH is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. FSH plays an important role in sexual development and functioning. In women, FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries.