The monograph introduces innate immunity as second authority in the ovary besides the endocrine system. Innate immunity appears to orchestrate follicular atresia, follicle rupture, follicle transformation into a corpus luteum (CL) and CL regression through nonsterile inflammation and tissue repair. The concept is new. It centres on cytokeratin-positive (CK+) cells being recognized as a potential nonlymphoid dendritic cell type (DC). Part I describes morphological aspects of immune privilege starting with areactive hamster ovary implants into the chicken chorioallantois membrane. Follicular...

This book offers high-quality illustrations showing the ovarian follicles, the corpus luteum and the interstitial cortex, clearly depicting physiologic cell death forms and leukocyte subtypes and demonstrating in detail the steps in the ovulatory process.