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Journal of Ovarian Research

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Open Access 01-12-2013 | Brief communication

Ovarian stem cells: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

Authors: Deepa Bhartiya, Kalpana Sriraman, Seema Parte, Hiren Patel

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

Background

Lei and Spradling in a recent study published in PNAS failed to detect ‘germline cysts’ by elegant studies using lineage tracing approach and thus concluded that adult mouse ovaries lack stem cells. They proposed that primordial follicle pool generated during fetal life is sufficient to sustain oogenesis and that there is no renewal of oocytes during adult life. Contrary to their results, we have reported presence of very small pluripotent, embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), their immediate descendants (OGSCs) and germ cell ‘cysts’ or ‘nests’ (formed by rapid cell division and incomplete cytokinesis) in surface epithelial cell smears of adult sheep, monkey and human ovaries.

Methods

In the present study, ovaries were collected from adult mouse (treated with 5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, PMSG) and sheep (from slaughter house) and testis from mouse treated with busulphan (25 mg/Kg). Ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells and testicular smears were studied for the presence of cysts. Sheep OSE smears were also used to show cytoplasmic continuity amongst the cyst cells studied by immunolocalization and confocal microscopy of stem cells specific markers OCT-4 and SSEA-4.

Results

Cysts were observed and confocal microscopy imaging confirmed cytoplasmic continuity amongst the cells comprising the cysts.

Conclusions

Cysts represent self-renewal and clonal expansion of stem cells with incomplete cytokinesis and are a hallmark feature of stem cells. We suggest the use of PMSG stimulated mouse ovaries and use of more primitive markers like OCT-4 or STELLA rather than MVH for lineage tracing studies to conclusively show presence of stem cells by lineage-tracing studies.

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Title: Ovarian stem cells: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
Authors: Deepa Bhartiya
Kalpana Sriraman
Seema Parte
Hiren Patel
Publication date: 01-12-2013
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-2215-6-65

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Ovarian stem cells: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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