Table of contents
1. Background
1.1. A concept for the immune system role in the regulation of ovarian function
1.2. Developmental immune adaptation and development of immune tolerance
2. Immune system and tissue homeostasis (tissue immune physiology)
2.1. The tissue control system theory
3. Immune system and in vivoregulation of ovarian function
3.1. Comparison of the oocyte "storage" and "continued formation" theories
3.1.1. The prime reproductive period theory
3.2. A reversal of the oocyte storage to the continued oocyte formation theory and new perspectives in the treatment of POF and ovarian infertility caused by a lack of ovarian follicles with functional oocytes
3.3. Primordial germ cells
4. Human embryonic and fetal ovaries - mechanisms of oocyte formation
4.1. Human embryonic ovaries
4.2. Human fetal ovaries
4.2.1. Origin of secondary germ cells and granulosa cells from fetal ovarian stem cells
4.2.2. Rete ovarii channels contain immune system-related cells
4.2.3. Degeneration of fetal oocytes
4.2.4. Origin of primitive granulosa cells
4.2.5. Secondary germ cells originate by asymmetric division of ovarian stem cells
4.2.6. Monocyte-derived cells and T cells accompany origin of secondary germ cells
Period of life | OC-BMC3 | LH/hCG4 | E25 | Oogenesis |
---|---|---|---|---|
First trimester - midpregnancy
| yes | yes | yes | yes6 |
Last trimester - newborn
| yes |
no
| yes |
no
6
|
Postnatal - menarche
| yes |
no
|
no
|
no
7
|
The prime reproductive period
1
| yes | yes | yes | yes6 |
Premenopause
2
|
no
| yes | yes |
no
7
|
Postmenopause
|
no
| yes |
no
|
no
6
|
4.2.7. Conclusions on the origin of secondary germ cells
5. Cessation of oogenesis in prenatal human ovaries
6. Oocyte and follicular renewal in humans during the prime reproductive period
6.1. Origin of new granulosa and germ cells from bipotent ovarian stem cells
6.1.1. Origin of new granulosa cells
6.1.2. Origin of new germ cells
6.2. Involvement of the immune system-related cells
6.3. Localization of SCP3 in adult human and monkey ovaries
6.4. Summary on follicular renewal in adult human ovaries
7. Developmental immune adaptation and determination of the aging of the ovary and other tissues
7.1. Thymus and reproduction
7.2. The working hypothesis
7.3. Premature failure of ovaries with primordial follicles and animal models
7.4. The tissue control system theory and a "stop-effect" of monocyte-derived cells
7.5. The immune system memory and aging of the body
8. Former and current views on ovarian oogenesis and follicular renewal
8.1. Milestones of the oocyte storage theory
8.2. Oogenesis in adult prosimians
8.3. Rodent ovaries
8.3.1. Functional repair of anovulatory mouse ovaries with cultured germline stem cells
8.4. Summary on the current views
9. Follicular selection
9.1. Selection of growing (primary) follicles
9.2. Selection of a dominant follicle
9.3. Novel aspects of follicular selection
9.4. Follicular atresia
10. Developmental potential of ovarian stem cells in vitro
Case #1 | Age2 | POF | Diagnosis | CK+ OSC/ epithelial crypts | Oogenesis in primary and secondary cultures | Morulae | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pre/post menopause | left ov | right ov | primary | secondary | ||||
1 | 30 | POF | POF | yes | yes | yes | N.A. | no |
2 | 36 | pre | PFD4 | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
3 | 38 | POF | POF |
no
|
no
|
no
| N.A. | no |
4 | 39 | pre | endometriosis | yes | yes | yes | N.A. | no |
5 | 40 | POF | POF | yes | yes | yes | N.A. | no |
6 | 42 | pre | fibroids | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
7 | 43A | pre | menorrhagia | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
8 | 43B | pre | fibroids | yes | no | yes | yes | no |
9 | 45 | pre | endometriosis | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
10 | 48A | pre | menorrhagia | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
11 | 48A | pre | fibroids | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
12 |
49
3
| pre | PFD |
no
|
no
|
no
| N.A. | no |
13 |
50
3
| pre | fibroids |
no
|
no
|
no
| N.A. | no |
14 |
52
3
| post | ovarian cyst |
no
|
no
|
no
| N.A. | no |
15 | 53 | post | PFD | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
16 | 55 | post | uterine bleeding | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
17 | 60 | post | PFD | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
18 | 67A | post | PFD | yes | yes | yes | N.A. | no |
19 | 67B | post | PFD | yes | no | yes | N.A. | no |