Morphogenesis of the ovarian interstitial tissue in the neonatal mouse.

Abstract

AbstractThe development of the mouse ovarian interstitial tissue was examined by light and electron microscopy at postnatal days 9, 10, 11, 12, and 18. Prior to day 12 the ovarian stroma is composed of fibroblast‐like cells. These cells contain rough endoplasmic reticulum, elongate mitochondria with lamellar cristae, and lipid bodies which appear uniformly electron opaque. On postnatal day 12 islands of lipid containing cells are seen deep in the interfollicular stroma. These cells referred to as interstitial cells have rounded mitochondria with tubular cristae, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, lipid bodies with extracted centers, well‐developed Golgi complexes, and solitary cilia lacking the central tubular elements. By postnatal day 18 similar cells are seen in the thecal regions of normal appearing follicles. Also seen in the theca are cells whose cytoplasm contains characteristics of both fibroblasts and interstitial cell.It is proposed that the interstitial cells develop from the fibroblast‐like stromal cells, that this development proceeds in a wave from deep in the interfollicular tissue toward the follicle, and that the interstitial cells are the source of ovarian steroid production during this period of development.