Abstract
Preantral follicle development has become an increasingly recognized area of study
in the last two decades. Factors that regulate the growth survival and differentiation
of these small, yet complex structures have been identified. The field of fertility
preservation and a need for increased numbers of mature oocytes for stem cell research
revealed how little we knew of how follicles got from the primordial stage to the
antral stage with a healthy and competent oocyte inside. This work discusses the role
of gonadotropins in regulating preantral follicles and also the role of the TGF-β
family members and their associated Smad signaling molecules in preantral follicle
development. Preantral follicle development is a necessary step to fertility in females
and further understanding of this process is essential for progress in both infertility
care and the enlarging field of in vitro folliculogenesis.
Keywords
preantral follicle - ovary - Smad - FSH - TGF-β
