Different hormones, cytokines, the absence of growth factors, and others, are some of the signals for initiating apoptosis in ovarian cells. Each of them in its own way, trigger apoptosis as a form of death in which the cell actively participates by precisely implementing a genetically programmed sequence of biochemical and morphological changes which lead to selfdestruction. Apoptosis is a physiological form of death, which helps establish a dynamic balance among proiliferation, differenciation, and death of ovarian cells. It has been confirmed so far that follicular cells oocytes, cells of the germinal epithelium, theca cells, and corpus luteum cells die through apoptosis. The physiological deaths of these cells are an integral part of normal ovarian function, both during intrauterine and postnatal life. Namely, during intrauterine ovarian development, about half the total number of germinative cells (future oocytes) die through apoptosis and their population is gradually reduced after birth by so-called selection of follicles which will continue further growth (folliculogenesis) and the apoptosis of cells of those follicles which will be subjected to atresion. Most ovarian cells die by apoptosis continuously until the end of the reproductive life period of healthy females, and some can continue dieing in this way until the death of the given individual (e.g. germinal epithelium cells).
α-1,4-Glucosidase Activity and the Presence of Germinal Epithelium Cells in the Semen for Differential Diagnosis of Obstructive and Nonobstructive Azoospermia
