Ovarian follicular granulosa cells surround and nurture oocytes, and produce sex steroid hormones. It is believed that during development the ovarian surface epithelial cells penetrate into the ovary and develop into granulosa cells when associating with oogonia to form follicles. Using bovine fetal ovaries (n = 80) we identified a novel cell type, termed GREL for Gonadal Ridge Epithelial-Like....

The Wt1 gene encodes a nuclear transcription factor that is specifically expressed in ovarian granulosa cells. However, the physiological significance of Wt1 in ovarian follicle development remains elusive. In this study, we found that Wt1(+/R394W) mice were grossly normal, however, the females displayed severe reproductive defects. Only ∼15% of the Wt1(+/R394W) females became pregnant after ma...

Only a minute fraction of ovarian follicles present in a foetal ovary will complete the path to ovulation. The majority of the follicles will instead undergo atresia, a hormonally controlled apoptotic process. Apoptosis occurs throughout follicle development, with an extensive reduction in the number of follicles present at birth. Interestingly, this drastic reduction is not present among preov...

The synthesis of estradiol by the granulosa cells is a prominent event in ovarian physiology and depends on the expression of P450(AROM). FSH induces the expression of P450(AROM) in granulosa cells as a result of the presence in the ovarian promoter of a CRE (cAMP response element)-like sequence (CLS). In rodents, LH downregulates aromatase expression during luteinization by an as yet undescrib...

Organogenesis of the ovary is a highly orchestrated process involving multiple lineage determination of ovarian surface epithelium, granulosa cells and theca cells. Although the sources of ovarian surface epithelium and granulosa cells are known, the origin(s) of theca progenitor cells have not been definitively identified. Here we show that theca cells derive from two sources: Wt1(+) cells ind...

Previous studies have implicated transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6 in the regulation of murine ovarian development and function. In rodents, GATA-4 is expressed in granulosa cells of primary and early antral follicles, whereas GATA-6 is expressed in granulosa cells of late antral follicles and luteal glands. Both transcription factors can be detected in lesser amounts in theca cells and i...

Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of basal lamina on the morphology of ovarian granulosa cells in vitro. Pure and intact basal lamina was isolated from the large preovulatory follicles of the chicken ovary and designated basal lamina of avian ovarian follicle (BLAOF). Examination of the isolated basal lamina with electron microscope revealed an ultrastructure that is similar...

  To study viability and activity of isolated common carp, Cyprinus carpio, ovarian follicular cells (granulosa and theca cells), 17- α -Hydroxy progesterone (17 α -OHP) and 17 β -Estradiol (E2) levels were estimated in the culture media of cultivated carp ovarian follicular cells, using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Oocytes were isolated from the ovaries of female carp. Interstitial tissue was manua...

The fetal gonad is composed of a mixture of somatic cell lineages and germ cells. The fate of the gonad, male or female, is determined by a population of somatic cells that differentiate into Sertoli or granulosa cells and direct testis or ovary development. It is well established that germ cells are not required for the establishment or maintenance of Sertoli cells or testis cords in the male ...

Despite the well-established tumor suppressive role of TGFβ proteins, depletion of key TGFβ signaling components in the mouse ovary does not induce a growth advantage. To define the role of TGFβ signaling in ovarian tumorigenesis, we created a mouse model expressing a constitutively active TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFBR1) in ovarian somatic cells using conditional gain-of-function approach. Remarkably,...