Ovarian follicular dynamics. A review with emphasis on the bovine species. Part II: Antral development, exogenous influence and future prospects.

During an oestrous cycle, a cohort of antral follicles develops into--depending on the species--one or more ovulatory follicles. The bovine oestrous cycle is characterized by two to three such cohorts or growth waves, only the last of which will result in an ovulation. In every growth wave, several antral follicles are recruited for development. Recruited follicles are subjected to a selection process, whereby ever decreasing levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are available to the FSH dependent follicles. In the cow, a single follicle from the cohort will acquire dominance. The ability of the dominant follicle to prosper under basic FSH levels is ascribed to a transition in hormone dependency from FSH to luteinizing hormone. The exact follicle selection mechanism remains, however, to be elucidated. The beginning of this article focuses on the recruitment, selection and dominance phases in antral follicle development. Subsequently, the conditions leading to successful maturation and ovulation are discussed. The next section expounds upon the mechanisms for exogenous modulation of follicular dynamics with the aim of superovulation/superstimulation, and finally prospective future research directions are sketched.