The adrenergic innervation of the guinea pig ovary during prenatal and postnatal periods.

The pattern of adrenergic nerves was visualized and norepinephrine (NE) quantified in guinea pig ovaries from fetal day 50 to term and on days 1, 5, 10, 20 and 28 postnatally. Before birth, there were a few perivascular adrenergic nerves and correspondingly low ovarian NE levels. After birth and through day 20, nerves gradually grew into adjacent stroma. By day 28, there was a proliferation of beaded adrenergic nerves around blood vessels and into adjacent stroma, which was reflected by significantly increased ovarian levels of NE. These findings are discussed in relation to antral follicle development, atresia, and interstitial gland formation in the ovaries of prepubertal guinea pigs.