What is the function of the granulosa?

What is the function of the granulosa?

Granulosa cells play a key role in the female reproductive system. They help you get and stay pregnant. Granulosa cells produce reproductive hormones and support ovarian follicles. These follicles are small sacs of fluid in your ovaries that contain eggs.

What does granulosa theca cell tumor mean?

Summary. Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary is a rare type of ovarian cancer. This type of tumor is known as a sex cord-stromal tumor and usually occurs in adults. Granulosa cell tumors of the ovary cause higher than normal levels of estrogen in a woman’s body.

What is ovarian granulosa?

Ovarian granulosa cell tumor (GCT) is a malignant tumor originating from the sex-cord stromal cells of the ovary. It is an uncommon primary malignant tumor of the ovary and represents 2% to 5% of all ovarian cancers [1].

Where are theca and granulosa cells?

In early stages of the ovarian cycle, the developing follicle acquires a layer of connective tissue and associated blood vessels. This covering is called the theca. As development of the secondary follicle progresses, granulosa cells proliferate to form the multilayered membrana granulosum.

Where are granulosa cells?

ovary
A granulosa cell or follicular cell is a somatic cell of the sex cord that is closely associated with the developing female gamete (called an oocyte or egg) in the ovary of mammals.

What is the role of theca cells?

Theca cells function in a diverse range of necessary roles during folliculogenesis; to synthesize androgens, provide crosstalk with granulosa cells and oocytes during development, and provide structural support of the growing follicle as it progresses through the developmental stages to produce a mature and …

What do granulosa cell tumors produce?

Adult-type granulosa cell tumors (GCTs), although rare, are the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms arising in the endocrine-active ovarian stroma. They are characterized by excessive production of estrogens, antimullerian hormone and inhibins.

Are granulosa theca cell tumors malignant?

The prognosis for granulosa-theca cell tumors generally is very favorable. GCTs are considered to be tumors of low malignant potential. Approximately 90% of GCTs are at stage I at the time of diagnosis (see Staging for further detail).

What is theca cell?

Theca cells are the endocrine cells associated with ovarian follicles that play an essential role in fertility by producing the androgen substrate required for ovarian estrogen biosynthesis. Theca cells differentiate from the interfollicular stroma in response to proteins secreted from growing follicles.

What is theca lutein?

Theca lutein cysts, or hyperreactio luteinalis, are luteinised ovarian follicle cysts due to overstimulation from high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or hypersensitivity to hCG.

What is the function inhibin?

Inhibin is a protein secreted by the Sertoli cells in men and by the granulosa cells in women. It inhibits the synthesis and release of the follicle-stimulating hormone in the pituitary gland and reduces the hypothalamic LH – releasing hormone content.

What are theca cells?

What do granulosa cells produce?

Granulosa cells form a single layer around the OOCYTE in the primordial ovarian follicle and advance to form a multilayered cumulus oophorus surrounding the OVUM in the Graafian follicle. The major functions of granulosa cells include the production of steroids and LH receptors (RECEPTORS, LH).

What is theca interna and externa?

Theca is a Latin word for a casing or sheath. The theca cell layer of the ovarian follicle is an envelope of connective tissue surrounding the granulosa cells. The inner-most layer that is closest to the granulosa cells is called the theca interna; the outer-most layer is called the theca externa.

What is theca in secondary follicle?

The theca of the ovarian follicle is an envelope of connective tissue surrounding the granulosa cells. It is comprised of the theca interna and theca externa. The theca interna contains theca endocrine cells; the externa is a fibrous, connective tissue layer derived from fibroblastlike cells.

Does inhibin inhibit LH and FSH?

Inhibin inhibits basal and GnRH-mediated FSH synthesis and release (7–20). Although it does not block LH synthesis, it also inhibits LH secretion (14–19). It causes decreases in FSHβ (12, 20),α -subunit, and FSHβ messenger RNA (mRNA) (20–23).

What is inhibin A and B?

Inhibin A and inhibin B are hormones associated with reproduction and the development of oocytes (immature egg cells) in women’s ovaries. In women, these hormones are made mostly by the ovaries and by the placenta during pregnancy. Additionally, inhibin A and/or B may be produced by certain types of ovarian tumors.