In the primordial follicle oocytes reach the dictyate stage of prophase 1, at which point meiotic arrests occurs.
The two cells on the left are a similar size and are both in metaphase, whereas those on the right have just reached prophase.
This stage corresponded to prophase of the first mitosis.
Prophase of these divisions was characterised by an irregular arrangement of microtubules in the nuclear area.
This is partially because of oocyte degeneration in the meiotic prophase and partly due to intense multiplication of ovary somatic cells.
When it is arrested in the meiotic prophase, the assembly of diplotene oocyte and pregranulosa cells occur.
This suggests that granulosa cells maintained the oocytes at the prophase of the first meiosis.
It looks as though there is an intact nucleus and the cells are considered to be in prophase of early embryonic divisions.
