AUTONOMIC NERVES MEDIATING CONTRACTILITY IN THE HUMAN GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE

Departments of Histology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Zoology, University of Lund, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden (Received 16th June 1975) Fluorescence histochemistry has shown that the human ovary is extensively supplied by adrenergic nerves, many of which are not associated with blood vessels and run in close contact with the follicles in a manner suggesting a local innervation (Owman, Rosengren & Sjöberg, 1967). Particular attention has been paid to these adrenergic nerves since it became established by electron microscopy that the theca externa of the follicle contains smooth muscle cells (Okamura, Virutamasen, Wright & Wallach, 1972). In order to elucidate whether the smooth musculature is involved in the contractility of the Graafian follicle, and whether neurogenic mechanisms can influence this function, a study was performed on material obtained from 32—48-year-old patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy because of pains, bleeding, uterine myoma, or preinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. The follicles were dissected out,