Publication: Ovarian Leydig cells (OLC): A histomorphological and immunohistochemical study
Authors
Carrasco Juan, J.L. ; Álvarez Argüelles Cabrera, H. ; Martín Corriente, M.C. ; González Gómez, M. ; Valladares Parrilla, F. ; Gutiérrez García, R. ; Díaz Flores, L.
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Publisher
Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología
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DOI
DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-876
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Testicular Leydig cells (LC) regulate the
proper development of male individuals, both during
fetal life (fetal LC) and puberty (adult LC). In the
ovaries of adult women, there are cells that are very
similar to Leydig cells, the ovarian hilus cells (OHC),
which also produce testosterone. The origin of these
cells, in both sexes, remains unknown and is still a
matter of debate. We have studied the location,
characteristics and relationships of the OHC in 90
patients. The indications for oophorectomy were:
metrorrhagia (n=9), prolapse (n=8), endometrial
hyperplasia (n=14), cancer (endometrial, myometrial, or
cervical) (n=35), uterine leiomyomata (n=14), and
various ovarian tumors (cysts and benign tumors,
borderline and malignant) (n=10). In addition to the
hilus, occasionally the nodules, nests and clusters of
OHC were located in the mesovarium, the mesosalpinx,
and in the medullar and cortical regions of the ovaries.
The morphological (including crystalloids of Reinke)
and immunohistochemical (positivity for calretinin and
alpha-inhibin) findings were similar to those described
for testicular LC. Therefore, OHC can be considered
ovarian Leydig cells (OLC). LC are usually found in
small numbers in the ovaries, but if one looks for them
intentionally, one always finds them. Close relationships
were observed between the OLC with nerves and
vessels. Moreover, an intraneural location of the OLC
was demonstrated in all cases, and these intraneural cells
showed similar characteristics to extraneural OLC,
suggesting that they derive from endoneural cells which
are present in the vegetative nerves of the ovaries.
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