Study solves ovarian cell mystery, shedding new light on reproductive disorders

NIH | MAY 16, 2015

Scientists have solved a long-standing mystery about the origin of one of the cell types that make up the ovary. The team also discovered how ovarian cells share information during development of an ovarian follicle, which holds the maturing egg.

The ovarian follicle is the basic functional unit of the ovary, which contains the egg surrounded by two distinct cell types, known as granulosa cells and theca cells. Scientists had known the cellular origins of the egg and granulosa cells, but did not know where theca cells came from or what directed their development.

Using a technique called lineage tracing, scientists determined that theca cells in mice come from both inside and outside the ovary, from embryonic tissue called mesenchyme.

Without theca cells, women are unable to produce the hormones that sustain follicle growth. One of the major hormones theca cells produce is androgen, which is widely thought of as a male hormone. But, the granulosa cells convert the androgen to estrogen.

The team uncovered the molecular signaling system that enables theca cells to make androgen. This communication pathway is derived from granulosa cells and another structure in the ovary called the oocyte, or immature egg cell. The crosstalk between the egg, granulosa cells, and theca cells was an unexpected finding, but one that may provide insight into how ovarian disorders arise.

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