title: [Elimination of apoptotic granulosa cells in atretic follicles: the role of macrophages and intact granulosa cells].
abstract: The present minireview describes a phenomenon by which phagocytic cells dispose of apoptotic granulosa cells during the process of atresia in mature (graafian) follicles from the guinea pig ovary. 1. Intact granulosa cells take part in the phagocytosis of dying granulosa cells at the early stages of atresia. 2. In addition, macrophages are present within large atretic follicles in order to remove dead granulosa cells and their debris. 3. These two kinds of phagocytic cells remain within the follicle until its atretic stages become considerably advanced. 4. A small number of macrophages are rarely discernible within the growing large follicles of the ovaries during the metestrus period. From these observations, the intrafollicular macrophages and the phagocytic granulosa cells are therefore considered to play an important role in the dynamics of the follicle, especially during both its development and atresia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasuya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D005496:Follicular Atresia / Q000502:physiology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology