§ 2 



HISTOGENESIS OF CORPORA LUTEA 



the normal follicle to the beginning of the formation of a 

 corpus luteum: (a) the ovum itself, in which certain changes 

 take place and (b) the granulosa cells which are distinguish- 

 able from follicle cells of the same age and/or size. 



Disintegration of the ovum occurs in the initial stages of 

 the process. The contents lose water (Fig. 64) and contract, 

 causing the oolemma to become wrinkled. Then follows a 

 very obvious change with separation of the yolk granules 

 from the more liquid plasm. Finally the nucleus disintegrates, 

 bursts, and mixes with the cytoplasm. Sometimes this 

 happens so suddenly that we might say the nucleus 

 "explodes" (Fig. 64). 



liquid 



theca 

 granulosa \ 

 formation \ \^^i <■ 

 of cell-wall ^,^~'^-' /p^ 



oolemma *£J^'" -^ w 



syncyt. of granulosa 



nucleus 





Fig. 64. Luteogenic egg-follicle at the beginning of the formation of 

 a corpus luteum: beginning of the a-stage. 



