The First Ovarian Workshop was held in June 1976; its goal was to achieve a collective understanding of current thought on ovarian follicular development and function, and to generate clear definitions of the most important areas to be explored in the future. The Ovarian Workshops quickly became a major biennial event for the community of reproduc­ tive biologists and their students studying ovarian function. As a young graduate student, I gave my first scientific presentation at the First Ovarian Workshop and I have attended all but one of the subsequent meetings. The Workshops provided a unique forum for the sharing ofideas with colleagues studying closely related problems. I was therefore especially pleased to have been asked to organize the Seventh Ovarian Workshop and to be given an opportunity to help perpetuate these important meetings. The Seventh Ovarian Workshop was held on the campus of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington on July 31 and August 1, 1988. Serono Symposia USA generously financed and coordinated the meeting. I would like to express my particular thanks to Dr. L. Lisa Kern and Dr. James Posillico for their invaluable help prior to, during, and after the meeting. I would also like to thank Mary Benson and her staff at the University of Puget Sound who made us feel at home in every way.

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I. Ontogeny of the Ovary.- 1. Mesenchymal-Epithelial Interactions in the Growth and Development of the Urogenital Tract.- 2. Overview of Embryological and Fetal Development of the Ovary and Testis.- 3. Role of Second Messengers in Early Differentiation of Gonads and Sex Ducts.- 4. Ovarian Tumors, Stem Cells and Ontogeny: Imminentes Cognitiones.- II. Keynote Speakers.- 5. Growth Factors, Proto-Oncogenes and the Control of Cell Proliferation: Lessons from the Fibroblast.- 6. Molecular Characterization of Fibroblast Growth Factor and Possible Role in Early and Late Embryonic Development.- III. Growth Factors and the Ovary.- 7. Rodent Studies on the Potential Relevance of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-I) to Ovarian Physiology.- 8. Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGFs) as Autocrine/Paracrine Regulators in the Porcine Ovarian Follicle.- 9. Regulatory Actions of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor, IGF-I (Somatomedin-C), on Sterol Metabolism by Ovarian Cells.- 10. Growth Factor-Gonadotropin Interactions in Ovarian Cells.- 11. Transforming Growth Factor Production and Action in the Ovarian Follicle: Theca Cell-Granulosa Cell Interactions.- 12. Fibroblast Growth Factors as Local Mediators of Gonadal Function.- IV. Poster Presentation Manuscripts.- 13. Analysis of Binding Sites for IGF-I on Membranes from Granulosa Cells of Small, Medium, and Large Porcine Follicles.- 14. Binding Sites for IGF-I Identified on Theca Cells from Large Porcine Follicles.- 15. The Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factors in Granulosa Cell Steroidogenesis: Studies with a Neutralizing Antibody to IGF-I.- 16. Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Regulates ?5-3?-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity in Rat Granulosa Cells.- 17. Steroidogenic Effect of Insulin May Not Be Mediated Through Somatomedin-C/IGF-I Receptors.- 18. Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and Transforming Growth Factor-? Regulate the Differentiation of Purified Ovarian Theca-Interstitial Cells in Serum-Free Medium.- 19. Bovine Thecal Cells Secrete Transforming Growth Factor ? and ?.- 20. Variations in the Level of Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha (TGF?) mRNA During the Human Menstrual Cycle.- 21. Transforming Growth Factor-? Inhibits the LH-Induced Maturation of Rat Oocytes.- 22. Light and Electron Microscope Immunocytochemical Localization of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Bovine Corpora Lutea of Pregnancy.- 23. Maturation of the Oocyte-Cumulus Cell Complex in Mice: Specificity of Epidermal Growth Factor Activity.- 24. Multifactorial Regulation of Granulosa Cell (GC) Proliferation: Interactions Among Polypeptide Growth Factors.- 25. Gonadotropins Enhance the Cytoplasmic Maturation of Mouse Oocytes Under the Influence of Growth Factors.- 26. Initial Characterization of a Luteal Growth Factor for Ovarian Mesothelial Cells.- 27. Gap Junctions in Transformed Rat Granulosa Cells.- 28. PMSG Induction of C-Fos and C-Myc Proteins Within Granulosa Cells of Immature Rat Ovaries.- 29. E-Cadherin May Be Involved in Mediating FSH-Stimulated Responses in Rat Granulosa Cells.- 30. In Vitro Secretion of Angiogenic Activity by Ovine Follicles.- 31. Localization of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in the Rat and Bovine Ovary Using Immunocytochemistry and Cell Blot: Evidence for Granulosal Production.- 32. Direct Action of Gonadotropin Releasing-Hormone and Visualization of Its Receptors on Porcine Ovaries.- 33. Role of Calcium in the Action of LHRH on Ovarian Progesterone Production.- 34. Modulation of Rat Inhibin mRNAs in Preovulatory and Atretic Follicles.- 35. Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Has an LH-Like Action on In Vitro Follicular Steroidogenesis But Not on Ovulation in the Cyclic Hamster.- 36. Mechanisms by Which Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Regulate Baboon Granulosa Cell Steroidogenesis.- 37. Heparin-Binding Proteins in Purified Plasma Membranes of Bovine Granulosa Cells.- 38. Variations in the Interaction Between Follicular Glycosaminoglycans and Fibronectin Relative to the LH Surge in Cattle.- 39. Differences in the Ovulatory Ability Between the Right and Left Ovary Are Related to Ovarian Innervation.- 40. Differential Responses in the Component Cells of Graafian Follicles Perifused with Large and Small Doses of LH.- 41. The Rat Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Cytochrome P450 (P450scc) Gene: cAMP-Dependent and -Independent Regulation in Ovarian Cells.- 42. Inhibitory Coupling Between Protein Kinase C and Cyclic AMP Generation in Swine Granulosa Cells.- 43. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)-Like Activity and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Are Sufficient for the Induction of Cystic Ovaries in Hypophysectomized Rats.- 44. Isolation of Steroidogenic Cell Subpopulations in the Follicular Theca of the Ovary in the Domestic Fowl.- 45. Evidence for an Endogenous Activator of Inositol Phospholipid Phospholipase C in Intact Rat Corpora Lutea.- 46. Estradiol-Induced Synthesis and Translation of Specific Proteins in the Corpus Luteum.- 47. Dual Activation of Adenylate Cyclase and Phospholipase C by Prostaglandins of the E and I Series in Bovine Luteal Cells.- 48. The Steroidogenic Response of Large and Small Luteal Cells to Dibutyryl cAMP and 25-OH-Cholesterol.- 49. Steroidal Regulation of Sterol Carrier Protein-2 and P450scc Expression in the Corpus Luteum.- 50. Regulation of HMG-CoA Reductase Gene Expression in the Corpus Luteum: Role of Estradiol.- 51. Pertussis Toxin Uncouples Enkephalin-Mediated Inhibition of Rabbit Luteal Adenylyl Cyclase.- 52. Attenuated In Vivo Progesterone Secretion by Ovine Corpora Lutea After Exposure to Luteinizing Hormone.- 53. Comparison of Gonadotropin- and Catecholamine-Induced Alterations of the Adenylyl Cyclase G-Proteins in Rabbit Corpora Lutea.- 54. Immunohistochemical and Morphological Observations of Macrophages in the Human Ovary.- 55. Phosphorylation of Sterol Carrier Protein 2 by Protein Kinase C.- 56. Histological Assessment of Ovarian Follicle Number in Mice as a Screen for Ovarian Toxicity.- 57. Ovarian Morphometric Changes Following Cyclophosphamide Treatment.- 58. Heparin, But Not N-Desulfated Heparin, Enhances Cumulus Expansion of Mouse and Cow Oocytes in Serum-Free Medium.- 59. A Fibronectin Receptor Competitive Blocker Inhibits GnRH Induced Meiosis in Follicle-Enclosed Oocytes.- Author Index.