Immunohistochemical studies of the adult human ovary: possible contribution of immune and epithelial factors to folliculogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
Formation of primordial follicles in adult ovaries could be a cryptic process limited to relatively small areas of the ovarian cortex and occurring during a certain stage of the menstrual cycle. Such an event may require a specific milieu provided by factors involved in developmental processes, i.e., morphoregulatory molecules and macrophages.


METHODS
Adult human ovaries were investigated by immunohistochemistry for surface epithelium and granulosa cell markers (cytokeratin 18 and MHC class I), immune system-related morphoregulatory molecules (Thy-1 glycoprotein and N-CAM), and macrophage phenotypes (CD14, CD68, and MHC class II).


RESULTS
In some ovaries 300-500 microns areas of surface epithelium were overgrown by tunica albuginea, descended into the stroma, and apparently fragmented into individual small (20-40 microns) follicle-like cell nests. Differentiation of the surface epithelium was accompanied by macrophages and Thy-1 glycoprotein. Small segments of surface epithelium showed N-CAM and a lacked MHC class I expression. In such segments, clear spherical germ-like cells migrated into the deeper stroma, associated with the microvasculature, and eventually aggregated with follicle-like cell nests.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that surface epithelium may be involved in the formation of some primordial follicles in adult ovaries. This process, and further follicular fate, may require a precise interplay of immune system related morphoregulatory molecules and macrophages.
Bukovský
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville 37920-6999, USA.
Keenan
J A
JA
Caudle
M R
MR
Wimalasena
J
J
Upadhyaya
N B
NB
Van Meter
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005496:Follicular Atresia / Q000378:metabolism; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007633:Keratins