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Information about Granulosa Cell

Histology of the preovulatory follicle
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

Granulosa cells form a single flattened layer around the mammalian oocyte 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.[1][2][3]

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). [4]

The embryological origin of granulosa cells remains controversial.

Additional images


Oocyte granulosa cells


References

1. ^ Satoh M. "Histogenesis and organogenesis of the gonad in human embryos.". J Anat 177: 85-107. PMID 1769902. 
2. ^ Upadhyay S, Zamboni L (1982). "Preliminary observations on the role of the mesonephros in the development of the adrenal cortex.". Anat Rec 202 (1): 105-111. PMID 7059014. 
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ Sawyer H, Smith P, Heath D, Juengel J, Wakefield S, McNatty K (2002). "Formation of ovarian follicles during fetal development in sheep.". Biol Reprod 66 (4): 1134-50. PMID 11906935. 

See also

External links

 •  • [ e]
Female reproductive system
Ovaries/OogenesisGerminal epithelium • Tunica albuginea • cortex (Cumulus oophorus, Stroma) • Medulla
Follicles/Folliculogenesiscorpus (hemorrhagicum, luteum, albicans) • Theca folliculi (externa, interna) • Follicular antrum (Follicular fluid) • Corona radiata • Zona pellucida • Membrana granulosa (Granulosa cells)
LigamentsProper • Suspensory • Round • Broad (Mesovarium, Mesosalpinx, Mesometrium) • Cardinal
Fallopian tubesIsthmus • Ampulla • Infundibulum • Fimbria
Uteruscervix/neck (External orifice, Canal of the cervix, Internal orifice) • corpus/body (Cavity of the body, Fundus) • layers (Endometrium, Myometrium, Perimetrium)
VulvaMons pubis • Labium  (Labial commissures, Frenulum labiorum pudendi, Labia majora, Cleft of venus, Labia minora, Vulval vestibule, interlabial sulci) • Clitoris  (Clitoral hood , Clitoral glans, Frenulum clitoridis, Clitoral crura, Corpus cavernosa, Vestibular bulbs) • Vagina (Bartholin's glands, Bartholin's ducts, Skene's glands, Skene's ducts, Fossa of vestibule of vagina, Vaginal fornix, Hymen)
BreastMammary glands • Nipple • Areola • Lactiferous duct
OtherG-spot • Urethral sponge
A gamete (from Ancient Greek γαμετης; translated gamete = wife, gametes = husband) is a cell that fuses with another gamete during fertilisation (conception) in organisms that reproduce sexually.
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An oocyte, ovocyte, or rarely oöcyte, is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum. An Oocyte is part the Ovary development, Different names for different stages.
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For ovary as part of plants see ovary (plants)
An ovary is an egg-producing reproductive organ found in female organisms. They are usually purple. It is often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system.
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Mammalia
Linnaeus, 1758

Subclasses & Infraclasses
  • Subclass †Allotheria*
  • Subclass Prototheria
  • Subclass Theria

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An oocyte, ovocyte, or rarely oöcyte, is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum. An Oocyte is part the Ovary development, Different names for different stages.
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Ovarian follicles are the basic unit of female reproductive biology, they are roughly spherical aggregations of cells found in the ovary. They contain a single oocyte (aka ovum or egg).
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folliculogenesis is the maturation of the ovarian follicle, a densely-packed shell of somatic cells that contains an immature oocyte. Folliculogenesis describes the progression of a number of small primordial follicles into large preovulatory follicles
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cumulus oophorus( Latin cumulus=heap Greek or oo=egg phorus=carrying)discus proligerus, and in it the ovum is imbedded.

External links

  • Organology at UC Davis Reproductive/mammal/ovary5/ovary3

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An oocyte, ovocyte, or rarely oöcyte, is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum. An Oocyte is part the Ovary development, Different names for different stages.
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Ovarian follicles are the basic unit of female reproductive biology, they are roughly spherical aggregations of cells found in the ovary. They contain a single oocyte (aka ovum or egg).
..... Click the link for more information.
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An oocyte, ovocyte, or rarely oöcyte, is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum. An Oocyte is part the Ovary development, Different names for different stages.
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Androgen is the generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors.
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A theca (plural thecae) refers to any case, covering, or sheath.

In botany, the theca of an angiosperm is half of the anther. An anther and its filament form together a typical (or filantherous) stamen, part of the male floral organ.
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Estradiol (17β-estradiol) (also oestradiol) is a sex hormone. Labelled the "female" hormone but also present in males, it represents the major estrogen in humans.
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Aromatase is an enzyme of the cytochrome P450 superfamily (EC 1.14.14.1 ), whose function is to aromatize androgens (that is, to selectively increase their aromaticity), producing estrogens. As such, it is an important factor in sexual development.
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The development of the urinary and reproductive organs is a part of the prenatal development, and concerns the urinary system and sex organs. The latter is a part of the stages of sexual differentiation.
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An oogonium (plural oogonia) is an immature ovum. It is a female gametogonium. They are formed in large numbers by mitosis early in fetal life from primordial germ cells, which are present in the fetus between weeks 4 and 8.
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In embryology, the gonadal ridge (or genital ridge) is the precursor to the gonads. The gonadal ridge initially consists mainly of mesenchyme and cells of underlying mesonephric origin. Once oogonia enter this area they attempt to associate with these somatic cells.
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An oogonium (plural oogonia) is an immature ovum. It is a female gametogonium. They are formed in large numbers by mitosis early in fetal life from primordial germ cells, which are present in the fetus between weeks 4 and 8.
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The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (thoracal cavity), peritoneum (abdominal cavity) and pericardium (heart sac). Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs (the tunica vaginalis testis) and covers
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Granulosa cell tumour
Classification & external resources

ICD-10 C 56.
ICD-9 183
ICD-O: 8620

eMedicine med/928  

Granulosa cell tumours (or granulosa-theca) are part of the sex cord-stromal tumour group of ovarian neoplasms.
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Ovulation is the process in the menstrual cycle by which a mature ovarian follicle ruptures and discharges an ovum (also known as an oocyte, female gamete, or casually, an egg) that participates in reproduction.
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membrana granulosa. It contains numerous granulosa cells.

At one part of the mature follicle the cells of the membrana granulosa are collected into a mass which projects into the cavity of the follicle. This is termed the discus proligerus.
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Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Although chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1869, Boston University traces its roots to the establishment of the Newbury Biblical Institute in Newbury,
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Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Although chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1869, Boston University traces its roots to the establishment of the Newbury Biblical Institute in Newbury,
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Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. Created and updated by the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM), it is used by the MEDLINE/PubMed
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Sexual reproduction.


The human female reproductive system contains two main parts: the vagina and uterus, which act as the receptacle for the male's sperm, and the ovaries, which produce the female's ova.
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The reproductive system is the ensembles and interactions of organs and/or substances within an organism that strictly pertain to reproduction. As an example, this would include in the case of female mammals, the hormone estrogen, ova, and the uterus and the vagina, and the breasts.
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For ovary as part of plants see ovary (plants)
An ovary is an egg-producing reproductive organ found in female organisms. They are usually purple. It is often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system.
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