Abstract
The volumetric composition of the human ovary during the compartmentalization stage has been investigated using current stereological methods. Eight left ovaries removed from three fetuses (developmental age 20β25 weeks), four neonates, and one 8βmonthβold child all with a 46, XX karyotype, free from malformations of the genital apparatus, were completely cut obtaining serial sections and one 1 ΞΌmβthick section every 1,000 ΞΌm was examined. Ovarian volume was 30 mm^3^ at the 20th week of development, 36 mm^3^ at the 25th week, 129 mm^3^ at birth, and 287 mm^3^ at the eighth postnatal month. The primitive cortical tissue was the largest component of the fetal ovaries (17 mm^3^, corresponding to 60.2% of the organ). The second component was the interstitium (21% of the organ), followed by the medulla (11.8% of the organ). The primordial follicles occupied a small part of the organs: 1.8 mm^3^ at 20 weeks and 3.4 mm^3^ at 25 weeks (respectively 6.7% and 5.4% of the volumes of the relevant ovaries). At birth, most of the organ was composed of interstitial tissue (57 mm^3^, 44.2% of the volume) followed by the medulla (25 mm^3^, 20.3% of the volume). The germinal tissue occupied 46 mm^3^, mainly primitive cortical tissue (14.9% of the ovary) and primordial follicles (16.3% of the ovary), with a minor contribution from the antral follicles (about 3% of the ovary). At 8 months, the somatic tissue formed the majority of the organ (143 mm^3^ of stroma, corresponding to about 50% of the volume, and 43 mm^3^ of medulla, about 15% of the volume); the germinal tissue occupied about 101 mm^3^: most of this volume was given by the antral follicles (28.6% of the ovarian volume). Β© 1993 WileyβLiss, Inc.