Granulosa cell
cell type
A granulosa cell is a somatic cell of the sex cord that is closely associated with the developing female gamete (egg cell) called a primary oocyte in the ovary of mammals. A primary oocyte is enclosed in a single layer of flat or squamous epithelial cells, called follicular cells or pre-granulosa cells, known together as the primordial follicle. As the primordial follicle grows the follicular cells change from flat to cuboidal in the primary follicle where they are known as granulosa cells. The granulosa cells proliferate to form a multilayered stratified cuboidal epithelium called the membrana granulosa.
Structure and function
Later in follicle development (folliculogenesis), granulosa cells advance to form a multilayered cumulus oophorus surrounding the oocyte in the preovulatory or antral (or Graafian) follicle.
The major functions of granulosa cells include the production of sex steroids, as well as myriad growth factors thought to interact with the oocyte during its development. The sex steroid production begins with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary, stimulating granulosa cells to convert androgens (coming from the thecal cells) to estradiol by aromatase during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. However, after ovulation the granulosa cells turn into granulosa lutein cells that produce progesterone. The progesterone may maintain a potential pregnancy and causes production of a thick cervical mucus that inhibits sperm entry into the uterus.
Embryology of ovarian granulosa cells
In the development of the urinary and reproductive organs, the oogonia become invaginated in the gonadal ridge.
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This entry incorporates text from “Granulosa cell” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.