The Effect of Restricted Food Intake on the Size and Composition of the Ovarian Follicle Population in the Wistar Rat

A 50% restriction of food intake in female Wistar rats from Day 21 to Day 42 of life delays the onset of puberty, reduces ovarian size and alters the size and composition of the ovarian follicle population. Semistarvation reduced the rate of oocyte atresia resulting in significantly more oocytes per ovary. This was directly attributable to more oocytes in the nongrowing, primordial follicle pool. Limited food intake reduced the number of follicles initiated to grow (Stage 1) and also the number of follicles in the bilaminar stages of growth (Stage 2). The numbers of follicles in the larger growth compartments were not significantly different from control values, but invariably, vesicular follicles were atretic in restricted rats. In both the preantral stages of growth and in the primordial follicle pool, the changes parallel closely those found in hypophysectomized rodents.