OVARIAN FOLLICULAR ACTIVITY IN LATE PREGNANCY

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Abstract
SUMMARY A histological study was made of ovaries obtained from patients in the latter half of pregnancy; the duration of pregnancy ranged from 26 to 40 weeks. During the first 7 weeks of this period there was little evidence of follicular activity. From 33 weeks to term new Graafian follicles, rarely exceeding 4 mm in diameter, appeared in progressively increasing numbers. This may be a critical stage in follicular development when the follicle must either go on to complete maturity or suffer atresia. Luteinization of the granulosa layer occasionally occurred in these follicles but it was not accompanied by proliferation of granulosa cells; the surrounding thecal cells frequently showed no sign of luteinization and were sometimes atrophic. The factors responsible for granulosa luteinization seem not to be the same as those necessary for theca luteinization, nor are they identical with the mechanisms responsible for luteal proliferation.

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