We investigated, using an image analysis system, the immunohistochemical localization of leukocyte subpopulations and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR in 30 normal-cycling human ovaries in order to better understand local immunological events in human ovaries. All subtypes of T lymphocytes examined (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells) were sporadically observed in the stroma and theca layers of follicle...

Ovarian follicles develop in groups yet individual follicles follow different growth trajectories. This growth and development are regulated by endocrine and locally produced growth factors that use a myriad of receptors and signal transduction pathways to exert their effects on theca and granulosa cells. We hypothesize that differential growth may be due to differences in hormonal responsivene...

BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by an adverse metabolic profile. Although dietary changes are advocated, optimal nutritional management remains uncertain. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly long-chain (LC) n-3 (omega-3) PUFAs, improve metabolic health, but their therapeutic potential in PCOS is unknown. OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine the associati...

cells of primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles. Connexin 26 expression in antral follicles was decreased by R diet. The expression of Cx43 in granulosa cells of primary and granulosa and theca layers of antral follicles was increased by HSe in M diet. Thus, maternal diet affected Cx26 and Cx43 expression, and connexins may be differentially involved in regulation of fetal ovarian ...

BACKGROUND In-situ hybridisation studies demonstrate that Notch receptors and ligands are expressed in granulosa cells (GCs) and in the theca layer vasculature of growing follicles. Notch signaling involves cell-to-cell interaction mediated by transmembrane receptors and ligands. This signaling pathway may represent a novel intraovarian regulator of gonadotropin-dependent follicular development...

Female fertility is determined in part by the size and development of the primordial follicle pool. The current study investigates the role of glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the regulation of primordial follicle development in the ovary. Ovaries from 4-day-old female rat pups were maintained in organ culture for 10 days in the absence (control) or presence of GDNF or kit ...

Growth factors play an important role during early ovarian development and folliculogenesis, since they regulate the migration of germ cells to the gonadal ridge. They also act on follicle recruitment, proliferation/atresia of granulosa cells and theca, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation and luteinization. Among the growth factors, the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and the b...

The aim of the study was to determine the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein (PCNA) in the pig ovary. The localization of PCNA was demonstrated in paraffin sections of pig ovarian tissue using primary mouse monoclonal anti-PCNA antibody. In primordial follicles, no remarkable staining for PCNA either in granulosa cells or in the oocytes was observed. In primary to secondar...

Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) (NR5A1) is an orphan nuclear receptor that plays a premier role in ovarian organogenesis. Recent studies document mRNA expression of the structurally related factor NR5A2 (FTF, LRH-1, SF-2) in the adult ovary and more specifically in granulosa cells and luteal cells but not theca cells. Conversely, SF-1 was shown to be expressed at higher levels in theca/interstiti...