Human ovarian follicular development: from activation of resting follicles to preovulatory maturation.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing morphometric and endocrinological mechanisms without systematic methods
PubMed 20362973 · doi:10.1016/j.ando.2010.02.021
What was done
This narrative review integrates morphometrical, endocrinological, and biological data on human ovarian follicles to construct a dynamic regulatory model of follicle development from resting follicle activation to preovulatory maturation.
What was found
Folliculogenesis begins with resting follicle activation mediated by the kit system. Follicles require several months to reach the 0.15 mm preantral stage and an additional 70 days to reach 2 mm. Growth during early stages is governed by interactions between FSH and local theca, granulosa, and oocyte factors. Late luteal phase follicles become sensitive to cyclic FSH changes. Selected follicles grow rapidly in the early follicular phase with moderate steroid output, shifting in the mid-follicular phase to high estradiol synthesis and, following the mid-cycle gonadotropin surge, large-scale progesterone synthesis alongside LH-triggered cumulus expansion and oocyte nuclear maturation.
Why it matters
The paper synthesizes the physiological timeline and shift from autocrine/paracrine control to gonadotropin responsiveness during human folliculogenesis.
Limits
The abstract presents a narrative synthesis without systematic search criteria, explicit inclusion/exclusion standards, sample size data, or primary quantitative effect sizes.
Cited by
- supports During the bleed week of the menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone levels are low while follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates the developing follicle.