Mammalian neo-oogenesis and expression of meiosis-specific protein SCP3 in adult human and monkey ovaries.
The concept of neo-oogenesis and follicular renewal during adulthood in mammalian females, including humans, is a novel concept with major significance for ovarian physiology and mammalian reproductive biology. Previous observations from our laboratory demonstrated that mesenchymal cells in the tunica albuginea are bipotent progenitors for both granulosa and germ cells in adult human ovaries. In the present studies, we demonstrate that the antibodies against meiotic entry synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3)--a marker or meiosis, showed reactivity with segments of tunica albuginea and ovarian surface epithelium, and in oocytes of some primordial follicles in functional human and monkey ovaries. These observations suggest that SCP3 is expressed in adult human and monkey ovaries. Preparation for meiotic activity may have already occurred at the level of tunica albuginea stem cells, and meiotic prophase activity may continue and terminate in oocytes of newly formed primordial follicles.
Bukovsky
Antonin
A
Laboratory of Development, Differentiation and Cancer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tennessee College of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920, USA. buko@utk.edu
Caudle
Michael R
MR
Gupta
Satish K
SK
Svetlikova
Marta
M
Selleck-White
Rachel
R
Ayala
Alena M
AM
Dominguez
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008540:Meiosis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009866:Oogenesis; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C490060:SYCP3 protein, human