Developing Morphological Asymmetry of Ovarian Follicular Maturation in Monkeys1

In order to study recruitment and selection of the dominant ovarian follicle in the menstrual cycle, we used luteectomy to synchronize the onset of new follicle growth. Previous experiments showed that the next ovulation after surgical removal of the corpus luteum usually occurs within approximately 14 days and is most often on the contralateral ovary. Twenty regularly cycling rhesus monkeys were luteectomized in midluteal phase and assigned to one of four groups. Ten of these monkeys were unilaterally ovariectomized 4 days after luteectomy; 5 underwent removal of the ipsilateral ovary (Day 4-I) and in 5 the contralateral ovary (Day 4-C) was excised. The remaining 10 were hemiovariectomized 8 days after luteectomy; again, 5 were hemiovariectomized on the same side as luteectomy (Day 8-I) and 5 on the contralateral aide (Day 8-C). Ovaries were serially sectioned; all antral follicles were classified and measured. Results indicate a significant increase (P