The ovaries have long been seen as a passive repositories for eggs. A study examining how the 3D structure of these reproductive organs change with age in mice is now challenging these assumptions, according to an article published in Nature.
A team of researchers led by scientists at the Center for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, Spain, has methodically mapped out 85,000 egg cells in over 100 intact mouse ovaries across the animals' reproductive lifespan. Their work provide new information regarding the biological mechanisms that preside over the control of the ovarian reserve, shedding light on the role of the ovaries themselves in this process.