Figure 4

FSH and LH gradient formation in the follicle. At time zero no hormones are present in the follicle (black line). Over the next five days LH and FSH diffuse into the follicular domain from the boundary (theca) and form a gradient. The five time points are equally spaced at 0 (black), 1 (cyan), 2 (blue), 3 (green), 4 (yellow), and 5 days (red) curves. Panels A and B show the profiles on the growing domain. Panels C and D show the concentration profiles on a scaled domain. Panels E and F show the concentration profiles on a scaled domain if we include the fluid-filled antrum on one site of the COC block. Panels G and H show the concentration profiles on a scaled domain if we assume rapid mixing in the fluid-filled antrum. The shading indicates the different parts of the follicle, i.e. theca (white), granulosa cells (dark grey), cumulus cells (light grey), and follicular fluid (blue). Note that the theca and granulosa layers are very thin and thus barely visible.