[Stress and premature menopause].

By acting on the neuroendocrine system during the stress response, life events may greatly affect homeostasis and favor the appearance of disease. Here, we describe a relationship between stressful life events and premature ovarian failure. From a mechanistic point of view, we suggest an autoimmune origin for such premature ovarian failure on the basis of the role of cytokines in folliculogenesis and of their increased production during stressful life events.

Oocyte size and intrafollicular position in polyovular follicles in rabbits.

Healthy follicles with 2-24 oocytes were observed in adult rabbit ovaries during all phases of folliculogenesis from primary to preovulatory follicles. Most follicles contained 2-3 oocytes which developed according to their topographical situation in the follicle. The central oocyte in a normal topographical situation has an almost normal growth and development up to metaphase II and cumulus expansion.