Apoptosis plays a prominent role in ovarian development and function 1-4. During follicle development, the vast majority of follicles undergo atresia as a consequence of apoptosis of constituent oocyte or follicular cells, or both, failing to complete the maturation process. Atresia occurs at all stages of follicular development during the growth and development of follicles. Atresia of the primordial and primary follicles is initiated by oocyte apoptosis, followed by the death of the granulosa cells 1-4. In comparison, the reduction of the large number of growing follicles to a single ovulatory follicle is achieved primarily by the cell death of granulosa cells 1-4. Members of the Bcl-2 and caspase families play important roles in the regulation of ovarian cell death, both in follicle development and in response to chemotherapeutic agents 5.
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