title: Morphometric characteristics of preantral and antral follicles and expression of factors involved in folliculogenesis in ovaries of adult baboons (Papio anubis).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Baboons are commonly utilized as an animal model for studies of human reproduction. However, folliculogenesis in this species has not been fully documented. The aim of this study was to assess follicle morphometry and expression of essential proteins involved in folliculogenesis in baboons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovaries were recovered from four adult baboons and processed for histological evaluation and immunohistochemical analyses. Follicle proportion, follicle and oocyte diameter, theca layer thickness, number of granulosa cells, and follicle density were calculated. Immunohistochemical staining was also carried out for connexin 43 (Cx43), aromatase, and zona pellucida 3 (ZP3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2221 follicles were counted and measured. Proportions of primordial, primary, secondary, small antral, and large antral follicles were 49, 26, 23, 1, and 1 %, respectively. The increase in follicle diameter was due not only to the increase in oocyte diameter but also to granulosa cell proliferation. Almost all antral follicles were positive for Cx43 (89.8 %), aromatase (84.8 %), and ZP3 (100 %). Most secondary follicles were positive for Cx43 (65 %) and ZP3 (64.5 %), and some primary follicles were positive only for Cx43. No primordial follicles stained positive in any of these immunohistochemical analyses. Only antral follicles showed aromatase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of these results, we can conclude that folliculogenesis in baboons appears to be similar to that in humans, and this animal therefore constitutes a valuable model.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte B1.52.02, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christiani A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte B1.52.02, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cristina Fortuño
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.affiliation: Society for Research into Infertility, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte B1.52.02, 1200, Brussels, Belgium. marie-madeleine.dolmans@uclouvain.be.|Gynecology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. marie-madeleine.dolmans@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D048530:Papio anubis; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Baboon; Folliculogenesis; Granulosa cells; Oocyte; Ovarian follicles; Theca cells