Ovarian Leydig cells and neural crests

Abstract

In our search for markers to identify and study ovarian Leydig cells, we utilized immunohistochemical techniques and visualized the results using conventional and confocal microscopy. We successfully employed steroidogenic factor- 1 (SF1), androgen receptor (AR), and class III β-tubulin as markers. SF1 and AR specifically highlighted the intraneural cell precursors of Leydig cells, which were previously identified in a published case of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary, and the adult ovarian Leydig cells. Furthermore, the transient expression of class III β-tubulin could be associated with the intraneural displacement of these precursors, cooperating in their migration to colonize the ovaries of adult women.