Differential expression of pluripotent and germline stem cell-specific markers in ovarian surface epithelium according to the female age in a mouse model

Abstract

Many studies have proposed that adult mammalian ovaries have putative ovarian stem cells (PSCs) from ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) layer as a source for oocytes production. However, no studies were reported on the change of OSE-derived germ cell markers according to the female age. Therefore, this study is aimed to examine expressions of pluripotent and germ cell markers in the ovary and scraped OSE cells, and postcultured OSE cells according to the female age in a mouse model.