A theory of follicle selection: I. Hypotheses and examples

A theory of follicle selection is developed in which all follicles, ovulatory and atretic, inherit the same developmental plan for responding to circulating concentrations of estradiol and gonadotropins. In the model, this plan is represented by a maturation surface that determines the rate of follicle growth as a function of follicle maturity and circulating hormone concentration. Examples of maturation surfaces are constructed for single and multiple spontaneous ovulators. When model follicles are activated from the reserve pool at random times, spontaneous and coordinated cycles of maturation develop in which the number of ovulatory follicles is controlled within a small and predictable range. For a given maturation surface, this range is nearly independent of the number of follicles in the interacting population, their activation times, and their initial maturities. The theory is therefore consistent with Lipschütz's Law of Follicular Constancy. The theory can account for certain statistical effects that occur with age on the timing of ovulation and the control of ovulation number. Maturation surfaces are also constructed that exhibit spontaneous transitions from cyclic to steady anovulatory behavior. The theory predicts an important regulatory role for atretic follicles in controlling both the timing of maturation and the number of follicles that reach ovulatory maturity.