Fig. 2

Photomicrograph of the sheep ovary during the follicular phase showing follicular atresia. A Showing atretic large antral follicle (ALAF) with apoptotic oocyte (AO). B Higher magnification of apoptotic oocyte in A; the oocyte have deeply stained acidophilic cytoplasm (Cy) and fragmented pyknotic nucleus (N) and surrounded by several macrophages (M). C & D Showing atretic large antral follicle with thickening and proliferation of theca interna (TI), apoptotic granulosa cells (AG), recruitment of several macrophages (M), thin interrupted follicular basement membrane (arrow) and normal theca externa (TE). Note the zona granulosa formed of single layer. Original magnification; A: X40, scale bar = 500 µm and B-D: X400, scale bar = 50 µm, haematoxylin and eosin stain