Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (607 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The reproductive organ (gonads) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the ovarian follicle for the production of female germ cells (oogenesis); and the endocrine cells (granulosa cells; theca cells; and luteal cells) for the production of estrogens and progesterone.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Ovaries.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Adnexa Uteri; Gonads
- Narrower topics
- Corpus Luteum; Ovarian Follicle
- See also
- Ovariectomy
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 104,295 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Ovary” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 13,107 of them (12.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 53,542 records.
Reviews account for 8,143 records (7.8%) and meta-analyses for 223. Randomized controlled trials number 1,331 (1.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 53,542 |
| 2000-2009 | 17,306 |
| 2010-2019 | 20,340 |
| 2020 onward | 13,107 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 8,143 | 7.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 223 | 0.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,331 | 1.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Ovary"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased stiffness mimicking ovarian aging induces a fibroinflammatory response in follicles and impairs oocyte quality | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 12 | cc by PMID 41575513 · DOI · PMC13695885 |
| TGF-β Signaling in the Pathophysiology of the Ovary: A Double-Edged Regulator | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 5 | cc by PMID 41594670 · DOI · PMC12838595 |
| Molecular mechanisms of folliculogenesis and oogenesis | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41928388 · DOI · PMC13110722 |
Increased stiffness mimicking ovarian aging induces a fibroinflammatory response in follicles and impairs oocyte quality [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Reproductive aging in females is characterized by decreased ovarian reserve and oocyte quality.
- Closing excerpt
- Our findings demonstrate that follicles are highly mechanosensitive and that stiffness alone can trigger hallmarks of ovarian aging, including reduced follicle growth, reduced oocyte quality, and a fibroinflammatory phenotype potentially integrated into the oocyte via transzonal projections.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (176 words)
Reproductive aging in females is characterized by decreased ovarian reserve and oocyte quality. With aging, both mouse and human ovaries become pro-fibrotic and stiff. However, whether follicles sense and respond to microenvironmental stiffness and affect folliculogenesis and oocyte quality independent of other aging-related factors is unknown. To address this question, we cultured mouse secondary follicles in alginate hydrogels that reproduce the stiffness of reproductively young and old mice. RNA-sequencing revealed that follicles respond rapidly to increased stiffness and exhibit enrichment in genes related to inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling. Long-term culture in stiff hydrogels resulted in reduced follicle survival, granulosa cell viability, estradiol synthesis, and oocyte quality. To begin to determine how stiffness is transmitted within the follicle, we examined transzonal projections, which mediate granulosa cell-oocyte communication and nutrient exchange. In stiff conditions, the number of transzonal projections decreased. Our findings demonstrate that follicles are highly mechanosensitive and that stiffness alone can trigger hallmarks of ovarian aging, including reduced follicle growth, reduced oocyte quality, and a fibroinflammatory phenotype potentially integrated into the oocyte via transzonal projections.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41575513 · DOI · PMC13695885
TGF-β Signaling in the Pathophysiology of the Ovary: A Double-Edged Regulator [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily comprises highly conserved cytokines that orchestrate key cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
- Closing excerpt
- This review provides an integrated overview of the roles of the TGF-β superfamily in ovarian physiology and its contributions to disease development.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (190 words)
The Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily comprises highly conserved cytokines that orchestrate key cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Within the ovary, TGF-β family members serve as pivotal regulators of folliculogenesis, exerting stage-specific actions from embryonic germ cell development to advanced follicular maturation. During fetal development, activins and SMAD-dependent signaling pathways are essential for primordial germ cell proliferation, survival, and the breakdown of germ cell cysts, enabling the establishment of the primordial follicle pool. Throughout folliculogenesis, TGF-β supports follicle activation, promotes the transition from dormant to growing follicles, stimulates granulosa cell proliferation, sustains follicular viability, and modulates steroidogenesis through theca cell regulation. Notably, anti-müllerian hormone, a TGF-β family member, plays a central role in inhibiting premature follicle recruitment and serves as a key biomarker of ovarian reserve. Dysregulation of TGF-β signaling contributes to various ovarian disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome and premature ovarian insufficiency. A deeper understanding of these complex signaling networks is critical for identifying novel therapeutic targets and advancing clinical interventions in female reproductive pathologies. This review provides an integrated overview of the roles of the TGF-β superfamily in ovarian physiology and its contributions to disease development.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41594670 · DOI · PMC12838595
Molecular mechanisms of folliculogenesis and oogenesis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Folliculogenesis is a complex, multi-stage process crucial for the establishment and maintenance of female fertility through the production of a developmentally competent oocyte.
- Closing excerpt
- Taken together, this article presents an integrated framework to guide future research in reproductive biology, regenerative medicine, and fertility preservation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (241 words)
Folliculogenesis is a complex, multi-stage process crucial for the establishment and maintenance of female fertility through the production of a developmentally competent oocyte. Folliculogenesis, including follicular formation, activation, growth and maturation, relies on a finely tuned spatiotemporal crosstalk between germ cells, somatic cells, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular dynamics and molecular mechanisms underlying each stage of follicular development. A particular emphasis is placed on the interaction of growth factors, transcriptional networks, signaling pathways and endocrine cues that collectively govern follicular fate and oocyte quality. Disruptions in these interactions lead to emergence of pathological conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency and age-related infertility. We further highlight the dual aspects of oocyte maturation, nuclear and cytoplasmic, as major determinants of developmental competence, and explore the role of spindle dynamics, organelle redistribution and epigenetic reprograming in this process. The bidirectional communication between oocytes and cumulus cells, mediated by paracrine signaling and jap junctions, is underscored as a pivotal regulator of oocyte metabolic activity, redox homeostasis, and meiotic competence. A better understanding of the oocyte-cumulus cell interaction offers new approaches for refining the in vitro maturation systems and improving assisted reproductive technologies. A special attention is given to the emerging use of cumulus cell-derived biomarkers for noninvasive assessment of oocyte quality and prediction of preimplantation embryo development. Taken together, this article presents an integrated framework to guide future research in reproductive biology, regenerative medicine, and fertility preservation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41928388 · DOI · PMC13110722
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The impact of excision of ovarian endometrioma on ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists During Chemotherapy for Preservation of Ovarian Function and Fertility in Premenopausal Patients With Early Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient-Level Data [5]
- Research article Antral follicle count in the prediction of poor ovarian response and pregnancy after in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis and comparison with basal follicle-stimulating hormone level [6]
- Research article 86 successful births and 9 ongoing pregnancies worldwide in women transplanted with frozen-thawed ovarian tissue: focus on birth and perinatal outcome in 40 of these children [7]
- Research article Current Success and Efficiency of Autologous Ovarian Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis [8]
- Research article The prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in ovarian cancer [9]
References
- Pietroforte S, Amargant F. Increased stiffness mimicking ovarian aging induces a fibroinflammatory response in follicles and impairs oocyte quality. . 2026. PMID 41575513 · DOI · PMC13695885
- Bertani N, Alteri A, Cacciottola L, D'Addato G, La Sala G, Lozanoska-Ochser B, et al.. TGF-β Signaling in the Pathophysiology of the Ovary: A Double-Edged Regulator. . 2026. PMID 41594670 · DOI · PMC12838595
- Ezz MA, Balboula AZ. Molecular mechanisms of folliculogenesis and oogenesis. . 2026. PMID 41928388 · DOI · PMC13110722
- Raffi F, Metwally M, Amer S. The impact of excision of ovarian endometrioma on ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012. PMID 22723324 · DOI
- Lambertini M, Moore HCF, Leonard RCF, Loibl S, Munster P, Bruzzone M, et al.. Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists During Chemotherapy for Preservation of Ovarian Function and Fertility in Premenopausal Patients With Early Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient-Level Data. J Clin Oncol. 2018. PMID 29718793 · DOI · PMC6804855
- Hendriks DJ, Mol BW, Bancsi LF, Te Velde ER, Broekmans FJ. Antral follicle count in the prediction of poor ovarian response and pregnancy after in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis and comparison with basal follicle-stimulating hormone level. Fertil Steril. 2005. PMID 15705365 · DOI
- Jensen AK, Macklon KT, Fedder J, Ernst E, Humaidan P, Andersen CY. 86 successful births and 9 ongoing pregnancies worldwide in women transplanted with frozen-thawed ovarian tissue: focus on birth and perinatal outcome in 40 of these children. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2017. PMID 28028773 · DOI · PMC5360679
- Pacheco F, Oktay K. Current Success and Efficiency of Autologous Ovarian Transplantation: A Meta-Analysis. Reprod Sci. 2017. PMID 28701069 · DOI
- Li J, Wang J, Chen R, Bai Y, Lu X. The prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in ovarian cancer. Oncotarget. 2017. PMID 28152503 · DOI · PMC5362510
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.