TY - JOUR AU - Stansfield, Fiona J. AU - Nöthling, Johan O. AU - Allen, William R. PY - 2012 DA - 2012/07/23 TI - Growth and development of the ovary and small follicle pool from mid fetal life to pre-puberty in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) JO - BMC Veterinary Research SP - 119 VL - 8 IS - 1 AB - Follicle numbers and developing ovarian morphology, particularly with reference to the presence of interstitial tissue, are intimately linked within the ovary of the African elephant during the period spanning mid-gestation to puberty. These have not been previously quantified in any studies. The collection of 7 sets of elephant fetal ovaries between 11.2 and 20.2 months of gestation, and 29 pairs of prepubertal calf ovaries between 2 months and 9 years of age during routine management off-takes of complete family groups in private conservancies in Zimbabwe provided an opportunity for a detailed study of this period. SN - 1746-6148 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-8-119 DO - 10.1186/1746-6148-8-119 ID - Stansfield2012 ER -