Ovulation, Oocyte Maturation, etc,

What are the 6 follicle layers?

1. Germinal Epithelium

2. Tunica Albuginea

3. Theca Externa

4. Theca Interna

5. Basement Membrane

6. Granulosa

What is the overall goal of the preovulatory stage?

break down the follicle wall through the LH surge

Induced Ovulators

needs physical stimulation (ex. cat with penile spines)

Oocyte Maturation

prepares oocyte for fertilization 

Nuclear Maturation

reduces maternal copy number of chromosome from 4 to 2

LH surge (at end of follicular phase) kickstarts…

ovulation and oocyte maturation

Cumulus Cells

• “nurse cells” that communicate to the oocyte while being matured

• they expand after the preovulatory LH surge

• become disconnected after maturation

• FSH stimulates cumulus expansion

Oogenesis 

process whereby oocytes develop and eventually become competent to contribute to formation of a zygote after fertilization

Folliculogenesis

process whereby ovarian follicles develop and become eligible for ovulation

Draw and label a diagram of the steps of oogenesis

1. Primordial Germ Cell

2. Oogenia

3. Primary Ooctye

4. Entry to meiosis

5. Meiotic prophase begins

6. Meiotic Arrest

7. LH Surge

8. Ovulation

9. Fertilization

10. Zygote