Establishment of ovarian reserve: a quantitative morphometric study of the developing human ovary.
OBJECTIVE
To assess directly the dynamics of the formation of the ovarian reserve in the normal human ovary by evaluating the total number of follicles in developing ovaries when folliculogenesis occurs.


METHODS
Histomorphometry-based follicle counts in complete serial tissue sections.


METHODS
Functional Anatomy Research Center, University of Milano.


METHODS
Thirteen fetuses, neonates, and one 8-month-old infant.


METHODS
Fifteen ovaries were completely cut, obtaining serial sections. Ovarian volume, volume fractions, density and total number of follicles per ovary were calculated using quantitative morphometric methods.


METHODS
Age-related dynamics of the establishment of ovarian reserve in human developing ovary at the end of the organogenesis.


RESULTS
The ovarian reserve (100,000 follicles at 15 weeks of postconceptional age) increased progressively to 680,000 follicles at 34 weeks. At 8 months of postnatal age the pool was still about 680,000 primordial follicles.


CONCLUSIONS
The consistence of the primordial follicle pool during organogenesis shows an exponential increase until month 8 of prenatal life and it is subsequently maintained without modifications at least until month 8 of postnatal life.
Forabosco
Antonino
A
Medical Genetics Unit, Dipartimento Materno Infantile, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. antonino.forabosco@unimo.it <antonino.forabosco@unimo.it>
Sforza
Chiarella
C
D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D047109:Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy