The formation of the sex glands and germ cells of mammals. V. Germ cells in the ovaries of adult, pregnant, and senile albino rats

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Abstract
Ovaries of adult albino rats were studied, the following phases being considered: Eleven to twenty and one‐half days pregnant, shortly after fertilization, oestrus, not pregnant, young sterile, old, and senile. Some new ova are produced from the germinal epithelium during pregnancy and oestrus, but it is in the ovaries of non‐pregnant animals between oestrous periods that the germinal epithelium is most active. There can be no question of the formation of new ova during adult life, for there is a correlation between the activity of the germinal epithelium and the number of oocytes and young follicles present in ovaries. Also one can trace the origin of ova in the surface and follow their transformation and movement into the ovary proper. In some sterile young animals little new formation took place, in others a good deal. In old and senile animals the germinal epithelium continued to be active, especially in producing ingrowing cords of cells, but frequently these were anovular. The germinal epithelium may form different types of cells by ingrowth: ova, follicle cells, and interstitial cells, but the formation of anovular follicles at one period does not prevent a later production of normal ova and follicles.Some new ova are produced from the germinal epithelium of ovaries during pregnancy and oestrus, but it is in the ovaries of non‐pregnant animals between oestrous periods that the germinal epithelium is most active. There can be no question of the formation of new ova during adult life, for there is a correlation between the activity of the germinal epithelium and the number of oocytes and young follicles present in ovaries. In some sterile young animals little new formation took place; in others, a good deal. In old and senile animals the germinal epithelium continued to be active, especially in producing ingrowing cords of cells, but frequently these were anovular. The germinal epithelium may produce different types of cells by ingrowths—ova, follicle cells, and interstitial cells—but the formation of anovular follicles at one period does not prevent a later production of normal ova.