A MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF AGE-RELATED CHANGES OF HUMAN OVARIAN FOLLICLES

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is one of the leading cancers in Indian women. Ovarian pathology can manifest in various ways, e.g. menstrual abnormalities, cystic disease, infertility, benign and malignant tumours of the ovary, etc. The study was undertaken to observe the age-related changes of the follicular number of human ovary and to study if there is any difference between the right and left ovary with respect to the total number of follicles and compare it with the established findings of previous workers, which will help the clinicians to adopt appropriate diagnosis and treatment of the various clinical conditions associated with the ovaries. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study on human ovary was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati. The histological characteristics of 42 pairs of normal human ovaries of different age groups were studied (14 pairs in each age group). The ovaries were divided into three groups, viz. group A or pre-reproductive, group B or reproductive and group C or postmenopausal. The results were statistically analysed and t-test was done to find out the significant difference of mean value. RESULTS No difference was found in the follicular number between the right and left ovaries in any age group. However, there was statistical difference in the number of follicles between age groups A and B, A and C and B and C. CONCLUSION The study showed that there were certain differences in the number of follicles of the ovary in the three groups. The study also revealed that there was no difference in follicular number between the right and left ovary in all the three age groups. It was observed that the total number of follicles of the ovary undergo age-related changes. The results were statistically analysed and compared with the findings of previous workers