Gonads, Female: Current Research on Isolation or Production of Therapeutic Cells

The ovary, or the female gonad, is the primary reproductive organ in females. In humans the ovary consists of a sac-like structure with an outer layer known as the germinal epithelium made of simple cuboidal cells. Beneath this layer lies the cortex, which contains the sphere-shaped ovarian follicles and the connective tissue (stroma) between the follicles. The follicles themselves comprise two important cell types, the granulosa cells and the oocyte (also known as egg cell or germ cell) itself. Granulosa cells are critical for the development and maturation of the oocyte. The cortex also contains the corpus luteum, a progesterone-secreting structure formed by the follicles after the egg is released during the menstrual cycle. The cells within the corpus luteum are known as luteal cells.

The ...