Preantral Follicle Development in Ovarian Systems
Summary
The preantral phase of ovarian folliculogenesis encompasses the period from primordial follicle activation through secondary follicle growth, before antrum formation. During this stage, dormant oocytes are recruited by intra-ovarian and systemic signals to initiate growth, accompanied by proliferation of surrounding granulosa cells and differentiation of theca layers. Coordination of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine factors such as growth differentiation factor 9, bone morphogenetic proteins and follicle-stimulating hormone determines the balance between activation and quiescence, guiding each follicle through size thresholds and transcriptional programmes. Follicular survival and development hinge on adequate metabolic support, redox homeostasis and extracellular matrix interactions within the ovarian stroma. Disruptions at the preantral stage can limit the quantity and quality of oocytes available for ovulation and assisted reproduction, making understanding of early follicle dynamics essential to fertility preservation and biotechnological applications across mammalian species.
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Preantral Follicle Development in Ovarian Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in preantral follicle development in ovarian systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Preantral follicle: An ovarian follicle at the primordial, primary or secondary stage before fluid-filled antrum formation.
Folliculogenesis: The multi-stage process of ovarian follicle growth and maturation leading to ovulation.
Granulosa cells: Somatic cells surrounding the oocyte that support its growth and produce steroid hormones.
Oocyte: A female germ cell undergoing maturation within the follicle.
In vitro culture: The growth and maintenance of cells or tissues in a controlled laboratory environment outside the organism.
Oxidative stress: An imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defences that can impair cellular function.
References
- The role of vitamin D3 in follicle development. Journal of Ovarian Research (2024).
- Eugenol Improves Follicular Survival and Development During in vitro Culture of Goat Ovarian Tissue. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2022).
- Control of growth and development of preantral follicle: insights from in vitro culture. Animal Reproduction (2018).
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