A new research at the University of Adelaide provides insights into how ovaries are formed which can lead to cure of several types of endocrine disorders caused in later life, reports Medical Xpress.
Researchers have discovered a new type of cell which is vital in the development of ovaries and ovarian follicles, basic units in the female reproductive organs that produce eggs in women. The discovery is a breakthrough in the science world since it was believed for years that ovarian follicle cells are a result of development of epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary, reports Medical Xpress.
This breakthrough will lead to better prevention and cure for several endocrine disorders that occur later in life including infertility and ovarian cancer.
"For more than a decade, scientists have believed that ovarian follicle cells are derived from the epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary as it develops," says research leader Professor Ray Rodgers, from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Institute. "Instead, contrary to conventional thinking, we've found a new cell type that is the precursor to both the cells on the surface of the ovary and the follicular cells. We call this the GREL (Gonadal Ridge Epithelial-Like) cell."
These findings can lead to a better perspective of looking into series of endocrine disorders including premature ovarian failure, early menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer, said professor Rodgers.
"The role of the ovarian follicle in many of these conditions is very important," Rodgers said. "For example, the PCOS ovary is associated with an increased number of growing follicles that at some point just stop working. With early menopause, there is a theory that some women may not have had enough egg-producing ovarian follicles at development, so once their reserve of follicles has been used up earlier, menopause sets in.
Professor Rodgers added that further analysis is needed to better understand about ovarian cancers.
"Ovarian cancer is a different story - about 90% of ovarian cancers are of an epithelial type," he adds. "However, our study has shown us for the first time that when the ovary is first developing, it doesn't have an epithelial layer. Why this is, we're not sure yet."
The study is published in an online journal PLOS ONE.
