Isolation, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo differentiation of putative thecal stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Although ovarian theca cells play an indispensable role in folliculogenesis by providing follicular structural integrity and steroid substrates for estrogen production, little information is available about their recruitment, growth, and differentiation because their immature forms have not been identified. We have isolated putative thecal stem cells with the ability to self-renew and differentiate in vivo and in vitro. They are similar to fibroblasts in morphology and proliferate in vitro as round colonies with a homogenous cell population. They were induced to differentiate into early precursors and steroidogenic cells in a stepwise manner after treatment with serum, luteinizing hormone, and paracrine factors from granulosa cells. At each differentiation step, these cells displayed appro

SUBMITTER: Honda A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1941479 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature