TY - JOUR
T1 - Classification of Atretic Small Antral Follicles in the Human Ovary
AU - Wei, Fu
AU - Fan, Xueying
AU - del Valle, Julieta S.
AU - Asseler, Joyce D.
AU - van der Meeren, Lotte E.
AU - Cheng, Hui
AU - Roelen, Bernard A. J.
AU - Louwe, Leoni A.
AU - Pilgram, Gonneke S. K.
AU - van der Westerlaken, Lucette A. J.
AU - van Mello, Norah M.
AU - Chuva de Sousa Lopes, Susana M.
N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded by the European Research Council (ERC-CoG-2016-725722, OVOGROWTH to X.F., J.S.d.V., and S.M.C.d.S.L.), the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF21CC0073729, reNEW to X.F., J.S.d.V., and S.M.C.d.S.L.), and the China Scholarship Council (CSC 202008450034 to F.W.; CSC 201706320328 to X.F.; CSC 202008320362 to H.C.). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - The reproductive lifespan in humans is regulated by a delicate cyclical balance between follicular recruitment and atresia in the ovary. The majority of the small antral follicles present in the ovary are progressively lost through atresia without reaching dominance, but this process remains largely underexplored. In our study, we investigated the characteristics of atretic small antral follicles and proposed a classification system based on molecular changes observed in granulosa cells, theca cells, and extracellular matrix deposition. Our findings revealed that atresia spreads in the follicle with wave-like dynamics, initiating away from the cumulus granulosa cells. We also observed an enrichment of CD68+ macrophages in the antrum during the progression of follicular atresia. This work not only provides criteria for classifying three stages of follicular atresia in small antral follicles in the human ovary but also serves as a foundation for understanding follicular degeneration and ultimately preventing or treating premature ovarian failure. Understanding follicular remodeling in the ovary could provide a means to increase the number of usable follicles and delay the depletion of the follicular reserve, increasing the reproductive lifespan.
AB - The reproductive lifespan in humans is regulated by a delicate cyclical balance between follicular recruitment and atresia in the ovary. The majority of the small antral follicles present in the ovary are progressively lost through atresia without reaching dominance, but this process remains largely underexplored. In our study, we investigated the characteristics of atretic small antral follicles and proposed a classification system based on molecular changes observed in granulosa cells, theca cells, and extracellular matrix deposition. Our findings revealed that atresia spreads in the follicle with wave-like dynamics, initiating away from the cumulus granulosa cells. We also observed an enrichment of CD68+ macrophages in the antrum during the progression of follicular atresia. This work not only provides criteria for classifying three stages of follicular atresia in small antral follicles in the human ovary but also serves as a foundation for understanding follicular degeneration and ultimately preventing or treating premature ovarian failure. Understanding follicular remodeling in the ovary could provide a means to increase the number of usable follicles and delay the depletion of the follicular reserve, increasing the reproductive lifespan.
KW - classification criteria
KW - follicular atresia
KW - human ovary
KW - macrophage
KW - small antral follicle
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85179363475&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316846
DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316846
M3 - Article
C2 - 38069168
SN - 1661-6596
VL - 24
JO - International journal of molecular sciences
JF - International journal of molecular sciences
IS - 23
M1 - 16846
ER -