title: Evidence for the oligoclonal origin of the granulosa cell population of the mature human follicle.
abstract: The clonality of the granulosa cell population residing in individual mature human ovarian follicles was examined by determining the pattern of X chromosome inactivation. Granulosa cells from 72 follicles were obtained from 9 patients undergoing oocyte harvest for in vitro fertilization. The granulosa cell DNA obtained from each follicle was subjected to the PCR, to amplify a highly polymorphic region of the X-linked human androgen receptor gene, after digestion by the methylation-sensitive HpaII restriction endonuclease, thereby achieving exclusive amplification of the inactive allele. Seventeen of 65 informative follicles (26 +/- 5%) were comprised of granulosa cells exhibiting inactivation of the same X chromosome. At least 1 such follicle was found in 8 of the 9 women sampled. There are 2 possible explanations for these findings: 1) approximately one fourth of all follicles contain a truly monoclonal granulosa cell population; 2) the granulosa cells of a given follicle are derived from a small number of stem cells (3 cells), such that the probability is 0.25 that all 3 stem cells producing the granulosa cell complement of a given follicle have the same X chromosome inactivated by chance. We favor the latter explanation and conclude that the granulosa cell cohort of mature human follicles is oligoclonal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Van Deerlin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cekleniak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coutifaris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics; D014960:X Chromosome
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D004247:DNA