Granulosa cells

Granulosa cells

A granulosa cell is a somatic cell found closely associated with the developing female gamete (called an oocyte or egg) in the ovary of mammals.

Anatomy and function

In the primary ovarian follicle and later in follicle development (folliculogenesis) they advance to form a multilayered cumulus oophorus surrounding the oocyte in the preovulatory or Graafian follicle.

The major functions of granulosa cells include the production of steroids, as well as a myriad of growth factors thought to interact with the oocyte during its development.

Also FSH stimulates granulosa cells to convert androgens (coming from the thecal cells) to estradiol by aromatase. However, after ovulation the granulosa cells produce progesterone that may maintain a potential pregnancy and produce a thick cervical mucus which inhibits sperm entry into the uterus

Embryology of ovarian granulosa cells

In the development of the urinary and reproductive organs, the oogonia become invaginated in the gonadal ridge.

In the 1970’s, evidence emerged that the first cells to make contact with the oogonia were of mesonephric origin. It was suggested that mesonephric cells already closely associated with the oogonia proliferated throughout development to form the granulosa cell layer. [cite journal | author = Satoh M | title = Histogenesis and organogenesis of the gonad in human embryos | journal = J Anat | volume = 177 | issue = | pages = 85–107 | year = | pmid = 1769902] [cite journal | author = Upadhyay S, Zamboni L | title = Preliminary observations on the role of the mesonephros in the development of the adrenal cortex | journal = Anat Rec | volume = 202 | issue = 1 | pages = 105–111 | year = 1982 | pmid = 7059014 | doi = 10.1002/ar.1092020112] [Zamboni, L., Bezard, J., and Mauleon, P. (1979). The role of the mesonephros in the development of the sheep fetal ovary. Annales de Biologie Animal Biochimie et Biophysique 19, 1153-78.]

Recently this hypothesis has been challenged with some thorough histology. Sawyer et al. hypothesised that in sheep most of the granulosa cells develop from cells of the mesothelium (i.e., epithelial cells from the presumptive surface epithelium of the ovary). [cite journal | author = Sawyer H, Smith P, Heath D, Juengel J, Wakefield S, McNatty K | title = Formation of ovarian follicles during fetal development in sheep | journal = Biol Reprod | volume = 66 | issue = 4 | pages = 1134–50 | year = 2002 | pmid = 11906935 | doi = 10.1095/biolreprod66.4.1134]

The embryological origin of granulosa cells remains controversial.


=Additional

References

ee also

* Granulosa cell tumour
* Ovulation
* Membrana granulosa

External links

* - "Female Reproductive System: ovary, cumulus oophorus"
* - "Female Reproductive System: ovary, membrana granulosa"
*


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • granulosa cells — cells surrounding the vesicular ovarian follicle and forming the stratum granulosum and cumulus oophorus; after ovulation they are transformed into lutein cells …   Medical dictionary

  • granulosa lutein cell — n any of the relatively large pale staining lutein cells of the corpus luteum that are derived from granulosa cells, have long microvilli projecting from the cell surface, and secrete primarily progesterone compare THECA LUTEIN CELL …   Medical dictionary

  • ovarian granulosa cells — During oogenesis in mammals the ovarian (Graafian) follicle, in which the developing ovum lies, is lined with follicle cells; the peripheral follicle cells form the stratum granulosum or ovarian granulosa …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • granulosa-theca cell tumor — an ovarian tumor predominantly composed of either granulosa cells (follicular cells) or theca cells, and often associated with excessive production of estrogen, with hyperplasia and carcinoma of the endometrium. When luteinized, i.e., having… …   Medical dictionary

  • granulosa-lutein cells — lutein cells of the corpus luteum derived from granulosa cells …   Medical dictionary

  • granulosa tumor — granulosa cell tumor an ovarian tumor originating in the cells of the primordial membrana granulosa; it may be associated with excessive production of estrin, inducing endometrial hyperplasia with menorrhagia. See also granulosa theca cell t. and …   Medical dictionary

  • primordial granulosa cells — prefollicle c s …   Medical dictionary

  • granulosa cell — noun Etymology: New Latin granulosa, from feminine of granulosus granulose Date: 1936 one of the estrogen secreting cells of the epithelial lining of a graafian follicle or its follicular precursor …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • granulosa cell — |granyə|lōsə , ōzə noun Etymology: New Latin granulosa, from granul + Latin osa (feminine of osus ous) : one of the cells of the epithelial lining of a graafian follicle …   Useful english dictionary

  • granulosa — SYN: stratum granulosum folliculi ovarici vesiculosi. * * * gran·u·lo·sa (gran″u loґsə) pertaining to the cells of the cumulus oophorus; see also under cell …   Medical dictionary

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