Follicular Development in Ovaries of Children With Down's Syndrome

Abstract

Ovaries of children with Down's syndrome were examined histologically in order to determine in what way the ovarian development differed from the normal. Twenty-six specimens obtained at autopsy at various ages between birth and 14 1/2 years were available and compared with ovaries from normal children of similar ages. All ovaries from normal children were characterized by active follicle growth. The ovaries of the children with Down's syndrome, however, showed absence or retardation of follicle growth. Furthermore the number as well as the size of the antral follicles differed from those in the normal ovary. The decrease of the number of small follicles occurs earlier in life in the ovaries of children with Down's syndrome than in the control. The possible relationship between an abnormal ovarian growth pattern and hormonal imbalance is discussed.

Chromosome painting analysis of early oogenesis in human trisomy 18

“…There is evidence that univalents may act as signals for oocyte atresia (Burgoyne and Baker. 1984), and it is known that the ovaries of trisomy 18 and 21 infants have a reduced number of germ cells (Russell and Altshuler, 1975;Hojager et al. 1978).…”

Ovarian dysgenesis in individuals with chromosomal abnormalities

“…It was not until the studies of Singh and Carr (1966) that it was appreciated that these fetuses began with a normal complement of primordial germ cells, which began to degenerate after mid-gestation, leaving only "streaks" of fibrous tissue at birth. Since that time, varying degrees of ovarian dysgenesis have also been found to occur in individuals with other abnormal chromosome complements (Russell and Altshuler 1975;Kennedy et al 1977;Hojager et al 1978;Krauss et al 1987 Table 1 summarizes the histological findings in these 36 individuals, which represent the basis for this study. Streak ovaries, characterized by a virtual absence of primary follicles, are present in all children with 45,X (Fig.…”

Aspectos genéticos e sociais da sexualidade em pessoas com síndrome de Down

“…Os problemas ginecológicos mais comuns nas mulheres com SD são os cuidados na higiene menstrual e os sintomas pré-menstruais. 28 Quanto à capacidade reprodutiva, Hojager et al 29 referem nú-mero reduzido de folículos nos ovários. Dados da literatura sobre a reprodução de mulheres com SD sem mosaicismo 30 mostram 30 gestações, incluindo um caso de gravidez gemelar em 26 mulheres SD, resultando em dez crianças com a mesma síndrome, 18 bebês sem o distúrbio e três abortos espontâneos.…”