The present study aimed to test the generally accepted view that a follicular wave starts with follicles newly recruited from the population smaller than 3 mm, which later compete for dominance. According to this view, subordinate follicles are expected to be too atretic to join the next follicular wave. Ten @entity291 were ovariectomized shortly prior to the LH surge, thus around the start of the first follicular wave of the cycle. Per @entity291 , on average, 14.4 follicles of >/=3 mm were dissected. Follicular health was determined on the basis of four parameters: 1) judgment of the degree of @entity1146 by stereomicroscope, 2) incidence of apoptotic nuclei among the granulosa cells, 3) @entity53 and @entity1420 concentrations, and 4) insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) binding proteins (IGFBPs)-2, -4, and -5 concentrations in the follicular fluid. In addition to the preovulatory follicle, 3.1 other follicles, mainly sized 3-4.5 mm, were found to be healthy based on the proportion of apoptotic nuclei, and concentrations of @entity53 / @entity1420 , and IGFBPs. The ability of these follicles to respond with growth on the preovulatory and periovulatory FSH surges was supported by a comparison to the follicular population of four @entity291 31-68 h after the LH surge. The present results point to an alteration of the view on the follicular wave. The larger follicles during the first days of the follicular wave are, in general, derived from follicles that also joined the previous wave. A portion of these growing follicles are @entity53 active and compete for dominance. Other growing follicles lack @entity53 production and are probably derived from rather atretic follicles. The first newly recruited follicles do not reach the size of 3 mm before 31 h after the preovulatory FSH surge. At that time, the larger follicles are already competing for dominance.

Follicular dynamics around the recruitment of the first follicular wave in the XXXX .

@entity1146 :: ('MESH:D018633', 'Disease') :: ['atresia'] @entity291 :: ('9913', 'Species') :: ['cows', 'cow'] @entity1420 :: ('MESH:D011374', 'Chemical') :: ['progesterone'] @entity53 :: ('MESH:D004958', 'Chemical') :: ['estradiol']
@entity291 :: (9913,Species) :: ['cow']
