Steroidogenic Capacity of Ovarian Interstitial Tissue in the Koala (<i>Phascolarctos cinereus</i>): Morphological and Immunohistochemical Evidence.

ABSTRACT: Ovarian interstitial tissue (IT) is a prominent but poorly characterised component of the koala ovary. This study analysed the morphology and immunohistochemical profile of IT in the koala ovary across different reproductive phases. Ovaries from ten sexually mature females were examined histologically and immunolabelled for aromatase, HSD3B2, HSD17B1, the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), and the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). IT occurred as multifocal cortical aggregates composed of two distinct cell types. Large interstitial cells were polygonal with highly vacuolated and weakly eosinophilic cytoplasm and were morphologically consistent with a steroidogenic phenotype. Small interstitial cells were densely eosinophilic, non-vacuolated, and morphologically uniform across r

SUBMITTER: Boyd J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12785116 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature