Ovarian antral follicle dynamics from birth through reproductive maturity: a mini-review.

The transition from quiescence to a mature hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis is a complex window of female reproductive maturation spanning puberty and the early postmenarcheal years. In reproductive maturity, the ovaries integrate reproductive and metabolic endocrine signals to coordinate both ovulatory and anovulatory waves of antral follicle development. Reproductive development towards a mature reproductive axis during adolescence is essential for optimal physiology and long-term reproductive health. However, abnormal reproductive maturation during this window is increasingly prevalent, highlighting the need to better understand the physiological and pathophysiological phases of reproductive maturity leading to ovarian antral follicle wave dynamics that define optimal reproductive maturity. In this mini-review, we will summarize literature in both humans and ruminant animal models to describe what is known - and unknown - of the endocrinology and morphology of follicle wave dynamics and follicular growth profiles from birth through reproductive maturity.