Ddx4+ Oogonial Stem Cells in Postmenopausal Women's Ovaries: A Controversial, Undefined Role.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies support the existence of oogonial stem cells (OSCs) in the ovarian cortex of different mammals, including women.These cells are characterized by small size, membrane expression of DEAD(Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp)-box polypeptide-4 (Ddx4), and stemness properties (such as self-renewal and clonal expansion) as well as the ability to differentiate in vitro into oocyte-like cells. However, the discovery of OSCs contrasts with the popular theory that there is a numerically defined oocyte pool for female fertility which undergoes exhaustion with menopause. Indeed, in the ovarian cortex of postmenopausal women OSCs have been detected that possess both viability and capability to differentiate into oocytes, which is similar to those observed in younger patients. The pathophysiological role of

SUBMITTER: Silvestris E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6678385 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature