Evidence of apoptosis in XXXX primordial and primary follicles.

@entity1 @entity588 @entity406 @entity876 @entity1146
BACKGROUND: Apoptosis may operate the 'selection' between follicles destined for @entity1146 and follicles that will remain available for ovulation. The aim of this study is to assess the expression of apoptosis in quiescent follicles. METHODS: Ovarian cortex samples from @entity1 of reproductive age, fixed in @entity406 , were used for immunohistochemical and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-UTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) methods. In histological sections the follicles were classified as primordial, primary, secondary and antral. Follicle density was defined as the total number of follicles/0.5 cm(2) of ovarian cortical tissue. Mab DO-7 (anti- @entity876 ) and Mab 124 (anti- @entity588 ) were used in the immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: TUNEL was positive in 23.4% of the primordial follicles, and in 23.2% of the primary follicles, both in oocytes and granulosa cells, whereas all secondary follicles were negative. @entity588 activity was expressed in 75% of secondary follicles. @entity876 was negative in all samples. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis could be the process responsible for @entity1146 of quiescent follicles and hence depletion of the ovarian germ stockpile. Follicular cells expressing @entity588 may therefore be the viable cells that escape the apoptotic process. Negative @entity876 patterns may be a favourable prognostic finding showing genome integrity in the replicating follicular cells of @entity1 of reproductive age.
