Early folliculogenesis in primate ovaries: testing the role of estrogen

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an exogenous estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), on follicle development in the ovary of a juvenile primate. The immature cynomolgus monkey (12-22 mo) was used as a model since ovaries at this age lack endogenous gonadotropin support but are capable of responding to exogenous hormonal stimulation. In addition, the pituitary gland receives virtually no GnRH stimulation and under these conditions lacks responsiveness to estrogen feedback. Two groups of three monkeys each received DES for 14 days. Members of the second group also were given GnRH antagonist to assure no GnRH action upon the gonadotropes. The left ovary of each monkey was removed just prior to Day 1 of DES treatment and served as the control. The right ovary was removed on Day 14 of treatment. Both ovaries from each monkey were prepared for evaluation by light microscopy. Results indicated that both the number of preantral follicles and the mean number of medium-sized (0.5-1 mm in diameter) developing antral follicles decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the DES-treated ovaries with no increase in early-atretic antral follicles. These data suggest that DES, at the amount administered, inhibits the growth of both preantral and medium-sized antral follicles in the primate. Whether these effects are manifest directly at the follicle level or are mediated by other mechanisms remains to be determined.