Butcher R L
Biol Reprod. 1985 Mar;32(2):315-21. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod32.2.315.
Reduction of the number of growing follicles was proposed to contribute to the decline in reproductive performance with aging (Butcher and Page, 1981). To investigate the effects of a reduced number of follicles, rats which maintained regular estrous cycles at greater than 1 yr of age had either unilateral ovariectomy (ULO) or control surgery. Irregular estrous cycles and periods of constant estrus were more frequent during a period of 90 days after ULO than in controls. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration in plasma collected at 0900-1100 h of the metestrus nearest to 20, 50, and 90 days after surgery was increased by ULO; in both treatment groups, FSH increased between 20 and 90 days. Compensation in ovarian weight and number of corpora lutea had occurred by 90 days after ULO. Estradiol, estrone and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations did not change with time or treatment. Numbers of small, medium and large antral follicles per ovary at metestrus were increased by ULO, while the number of follicles per rat was decreased. It was concluded that the reduction in ovarian tissue (which decreased the number of growing follicles) resulted in an elevation of basal FSH followed by irregularity in estrous cycles.
卵泡生长数量的减少被认为是导致生殖性能随年龄下降的原因（Butcher和Page，1981年）。为了研究卵泡数量减少的影响，对1岁以上维持正常发情周期的大鼠进行了单侧卵巢切除术（ULO）或对照手术。与对照组相比，ULO术后90天内不规则发情周期和持续发情期更为频繁。在手术后接近20、50和90天的动情后期09:00-11:00采集的血浆中，ULO组促卵泡激素（FSH）浓度升高；在两个治疗组中，FSH在20至90天之间均升高。ULO术后90天卵巢重量和黄体数量出现了代偿。雌二醇、雌酮和促黄体生成素（LH）浓度未随时间或治疗而变化。动情后期每个卵巢中小、中、大型窦状卵泡的数量在ULO组增加，而每只大鼠的卵泡数量减少。得出的结论是，卵巢组织的减少（导致生长卵泡数量减少）导致基础FSH升高，随后发情周期出现不规则。
