Ovarian development in athymic nude mice. IV. The effect of PMSG and oestradiol on the growth of the oocyte and follicle.

Retarded follicular and oocyte nucleolar growth rates in ovaries of 1 month old congenitally athymic nude mice are restored by pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). By contrast oestradiol-17beta depresses follicular growth rate in phenotypically normal (control) mice to levels found in nude littermates. Paradoxically, oestradiol-17beta stimulates nucleolar growth rate in control mice, but not nudes, to levels found in PMSG treated groups. These results are discussed in relation to the position of the thymus gland in the pituitary/ovarian axis and the mode of action gonadotrophin upon oocyte and follicular growth in the pre-puberal mouse ovary.