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Endocrine Reviews Feb 2015Exploring stem cells in the mammalian ovary has unleashed a Pandora's box of new insights and questions. Recent evidence supports the existence of stem cells of a number... (Review)
Review
Exploring stem cells in the mammalian ovary has unleashed a Pandora's box of new insights and questions. Recent evidence supports the existence of stem cells of a number of the different cell types within the ovary. The evidence for a stem cell model producing mural granulosa cells and cumulus cells is strong, despite a limited number of reports. The recent identification of a precursor granulosa cell, the gonadal ridge epithelial-like cell, is exciting and novel. The identification of female germline (oogonial) stem cells is still very new and is currently limited to just a few species. Their origins and physiological roles, if any, are unknown, and their potential to produce oocytes and contribute to follicle formation in vivo lacks robust evidence. The precursor of thecal cells remains elusive, and more compelling data are needed. Similarly, claims of very small embryonic-like cells are also preliminary. Surface epithelial cells originating from gonadal ridge epithelial-like cells and from the mesonephric epithelium at the hilum of the ovary have also been proposed. Another important issue is the role of the stroma in guiding the formation of the ovary, ovigerous cords, follicles, and surface epithelium. Immune cells may also play key roles in developmental patterning, given their critical roles in corpora lutea formation and regression. Thus, while the cellular biology of the ovary is extremely important for its major endocrine and fertility roles, there is much still to be discovered. This review draws together the current evidence and perspectives on this topic.
Topics: Animals; Corpus Luteum; Cumulus Cells; Epithelium; Female; Fetal Development; Germ Cells; Granulosa Cells; Humans; Ovarian Follicle; Ovary; Ovulation; Stem Cells; Stromal Cells; Theca Cells
PubMed: 25541635
DOI: 10.1210/er.2014-1079 -
Asian Journal of Surgery Dec 2023
Topics: Female; Humans; Adenocarcinoma; Endometrium
PubMed: 37730504
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.09.029 -
BJR Case Reports Feb 2021Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome is a rare complex congenital anomaly of the urogenital tract involving Mullerian ducts and mesonephric ducts. It is also called OHVIRA...
Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome is a rare complex congenital anomaly of the urogenital tract involving Mullerian ducts and mesonephric ducts. It is also called OHVIRA syndrome (Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal agenesis). It is characterized by a triad of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Patients usually present after menarche with pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, mass, and rarely with primary infertility in later years. We report a case of a multiparous female who presented to the hospital with pain in lower abdomen for the past 2 months and acute retention of urine for 1 day. This is an atypical presentation in a multiparous female that has been described in a single case report so far. Intravenous pyelogram and MRI of the patient revealed uterine didelphys, obstructed right hemivagina causing hematohemicolpos and right renal agenesis. Thorough knowledge of imaging features can enable a radiologist to make a correct diagnosis even in an atypical presentation.
PubMed: 33614122
DOI: 10.1259/bjrcr.20200132 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) arising in the ovary is a rare malignant tumor of the female genital tract. Although the clinicopathological and molecular...
Mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) arising in the ovary is a rare malignant tumor of the female genital tract. Although the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of uterine MLA have been accumulated, those of ovarian MLA have not been firmly clarified. In this study, we investigated the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and genetic features of five ovarian MLAs. A review of electronic medical records and pathology slides, immunostaining, and targeted sequencing was performed. On imaging, ovarian MLA presented as either a mixed solid and cystic mass or a purely solid mass. One, three, and one patient were diagnosed as having FIGO stage IA, IC, and II MLA, respectively. Four patients with stage IC-II tumor underwent post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. Three of the four patients whose follow-up information was available did not experience recurrence. In contrast, the remaining patient with stage IA tumor who did not receive any adjuvant treatment developed multiple metastatic recurrences at post-operative 13 months. Histologically, ovarian MLAs characteristically displayed architectural diversity, compactly aggregated small tubules, and eosinophilic intraluminal secretions. Four tumors were found to be associated with endometriotic cysts. Two cases showed some areas of high-grade nuclear atypia, brisk mitotic activity, and necrosis. Immunohistochemically, all cases showed positive immunoreactivities for at least three of the four examined mesonephric markers (GATA3, PAX2, TTF1, and CD10), lack of WT1 expression, non-diffuse p16 immunoreactivity, and wild-type p53 immunostaining pattern. Targeted sequencing analysis revealed that all four examined cases harbored pathogenic mutations: p.G12V (2/4); p.G12D (1/4); and p.G12C (1/4). In addition, we reviewed the previous literature reporting 60 cases of ovarian MLA. Our findings corroborate those of the previous data regarding the clinical presentation, histological features, immunophenotypes, and molecular alterations. Our observations should encourage pathologists to recognize and accurately diagnose this rare but distinct entity.
PubMed: 35204416
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12020326 -
Cell Reports Jun 2022Leydig cells (LCs) are the major androgen-producing cells in the testis. They arise from steroidogenic progenitors (SPs), whose origins, maintenance, and differentiation...
Leydig cells (LCs) are the major androgen-producing cells in the testis. They arise from steroidogenic progenitors (SPs), whose origins, maintenance, and differentiation dynamics remain largely unknown. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal that the mouse steroidogenic lineage is specified as early as embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) and has a dual mesonephric and coelomic origin. SPs specifically express the Wnt5a gene and evolve rapidly. At E12.5 and E13.5, they give rise first to an intermediate population of pre-LCs, and finally to fetal LCs. At E16.5, SPs possess the characteristics of the dormant progenitors at the origin of adult LCs and are also transcriptionally closely related to peritubular myoid cells (PMCs). In agreement with our in silico analysis, in vivo lineage tracing indicates that Wnt5a-expressing cells are bona fide progenitors of PMCs as well as fetal and adult LCs, contributing to most of the LCs present in the fetal and adult testis.
Topics: Androgens; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Fetus; Leydig Cells; Male; Mice; Testis
PubMed: 35705036
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110935 -
CRSLS : MIS Case Reports From SLS 2023Endometriosis originating in mesonephric cyst is unusual and with unknown prevalence. Endometriotic lesion in vestigial remnant of wolffian duct (mesonephric cyst) is... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Endometriosis originating in mesonephric cyst is unusual and with unknown prevalence. Endometriotic lesion in vestigial remnant of wolffian duct (mesonephric cyst) is exceptional. In the extended literature review only three cases have been reported in animal studies, and our case reported here is the first in human beings. We present a case of mesonephric cyst endometrioma in a 37-year-old patient who was referred for severe dysmenorrhea, long duration pelvic and back pain, subfertility, severe dyspareunia, and groin discomfort. The patient underwent laparoscopic removal and we performed a literature review to gain insight about the origin and surgical management of an atypical site endometriosis.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Case report presentation rests on information obtained from the patient database. We performed the literature review using a Medline search with the keywords: mesonephric cyst endometriosis, atypical location of endometriosis in vestigial remnant in wolffian duct, and Gartner duct cyst endometrioma.
RESULTS
On physical examination, fullness and tenderness in left adnexa and lateral vaginal wall fullness on left side with restricted mobility of uterus was noted. Based on the examination and imaging the left ovarian cyst and mesonephric cyst were suspected. Surgical exploration revealed the left hemorrhagic cyst with deep infiltrating endometriosis involving left ureter and left uterosacral ligament with mesonephric cyst endometriosis. The review of literature revealed three cases where ectopic endometrial tissue in mesonephric cyst remnant was found in female dogs.
CONCLUSION
Mesonephric cyst endometrioma, although rare, can be a representative of extensive endometriosis. This case highlights an importance of careful clinical examination, correlation of patient symptoms with examination and imaging, and successful laparoscopic management of an atypical location endometriotic lesions. We completed the literature review on successful surgical management of such cases.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Female; Humans; Adult; Endometriosis; Laparoscopy; Ovarian Cysts; Pelvis; Cysts
PubMed: 37808583
DOI: 10.4293/CRSLS.2023.00029 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022Mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) is a recently characterized, rare, and aggressive neoplasm that mostly arises in the uterine corpus and ovary. MLA shows...
BACKGROUND
Mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) is a recently characterized, rare, and aggressive neoplasm that mostly arises in the uterine corpus and ovary. MLA shows characteristic pathological features similar to mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the cervix. The origin of MLA is still controversial and recognition of it remains challenging for pathologists. The aim of this study was to enrich the clinicopathological features of MLA in the uterine corpus and explore its molecular alterations by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS).
METHODS
Four cases of MLA were identified among a total of 398 endometrial carcinomas diagnosed in our institution between January 2014 and December 2021. Immunohistochemistry and targeted NGS spanning 437 cancer-relevant genes were performed.
RESULTS
The most common symptom was abnormal vaginal bleeding, and the average age was 68 years. Histologically, the tumors showed a mixture of varied growth patterns including papillary, glandular, tubular, cribriform, solid, and slit-like architectures, which were lined by columnar to cuboidal cells with overlapping vesicular nuclei and sometimes nuclear grooves. Intraluminal eosinophilic colloid-like secretions were focally evident in three of the four cases. Immunohistochemically, the MLAs were positive for GATA3 (4/4), TTF-1 (3/3), luminal CD10 (3/3), calretinin (2/3), and patchy P16 (3/3) and were negative for ER (0/4) and PR (0/4). The expression of P53 was "wild type" (4/4). By targeted NGS, 3/4 (75%), 2/4 (50%), and 1/4 (25%) cases harbored , , and mutations, respectively. None of the tumors had mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, , , , , or . At the time of diagnosis, three were presented with FIGO IB stage and one with IIIC stage. Two patients received postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy and they were alive without evidence of disease at 8 and 56 months follow-up, respectively. One patient developed pulmonary metastasis 13 months after surgery and chemotherapy, and one was dead of the disease 24 months after the operation without adjuvant therapy.
CONCLUSIONS
MLA is a rare and aggressive malignancy, representing approximately 1% of all endometrial carcinomas. It exhibits mixed architectures associated with distinctive immunophenotype and recurrent and mutations, supporting classified as of Müllerian origin with mesonephric differentiation.
PubMed: 35865471
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.911695 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Jan 2022Female adnexal tumor of probable Wolffian origin (FATWO) often is a diagnostic challenge given its rarity, histologic heterogeneity, and lack of specific immunoprofile.
CONTEXT.—
Female adnexal tumor of probable Wolffian origin (FATWO) often is a diagnostic challenge given its rarity, histologic heterogeneity, and lack of specific immunoprofile.
OBJECTIVE.—
To further understand the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of this rare entity.
DESIGN.—
We studied the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of a cohort of 11 FATWO cases from our institute.
RESULTS.—
Patients' age ranged from 25 to 76 years (mean, 55 years). Tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 18 cm (mean, 2.7 cm). Histopathologically, most tumors presented with low-grade cytologic features with low mitotic activity and lack of necrosis. Three main growth patterns were appreciated: solid, tubular, and sievelike patterns. Higher-grade nuclear atypia, increased mitotic activity, and focal necrosis were seen in 2 cases. These 2 cases were clinically considered malignant FATWO mainly because of their extra-adnexal involvement. Immunohistochemical studies found that tumor cells were positive for CD10 (11 of 11, 100%), AE1/3 (8 of 8, 100%), CAM 5.2 (4 of 5, 80%), and cytokeratin 7 (CK7; 7 of 10, 70%), and focally positive for calretinin (4 of 10, 40%), inhibin (4 of 10, 40%), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA; 3 of 9, 33%), and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1; 2 of 8, 25%). Lack of immunoreactivity to PAX8 and GATA3 in almost all cases indicates that FATWO is different from the tumors derived from the Müllerian or mesonephric origins. All patients with available follow-up had favorable prognosis.
CONCLUSION.—
The broad spectrum of clinical presentation, various morphologic features, and overlapping immunophenotype suggest that FATWO is a diagnosis of exclusion until it is further defined at the molecular and immunohistochemical levels.
Topics: Adenoma; Adnexal Diseases; Biomarkers, Tumor; Female; Humans; Neoplasms, Adnexal and Skin Appendage; Prognosis
PubMed: 34133728
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0432-OA -
Cancer Genomics & Proteomics 2022This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological, prognostic and molecular characteristics of uterine mesonephric-like carcinosarcoma (MLCS).
Mesonephric-like Carcinosarcoma of the Uterine Corpus: Clinicopathological, Molecular and Prognostic Characteristics in Comparison With Uterine Mesonephric-like Adenocarcinoma and Conventional Endometrial Carcinosarcoma.
BACKGROUND/AIM
This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological, prognostic and molecular characteristics of uterine mesonephric-like carcinosarcoma (MLCS).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We collected clinical, pathological, and genetic information from 12 MLCS patients, and analyzed their differences from mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) and conventional endometrial carcinosarcoma (CECS).
RESULTS
The epithelial component was exclusively MLA in all MLCS cases. Metastatic and recurrent tumors consisted predominantly or exclusively of MLA in the majority of MLCS cases. Patients with MLCS and MLA presented with more advanced-stage disease than those with CECS. They also exhibited post-treatment recurrence and lung metastases more frequently than CECS. Disease-free survival rates of MLCS and MLA were shorter than those of CECS. Tumor protein 53 gene mutations were detected in four MLCS cases.
CONCLUSION
The predominance or exclusive presence of MLA in metastatic and recurrent tumors highlights the possibility that MLA may determine the clinical outcomes of patients with MLCS. Further studies are required to provide direct molecular evidence of the monoclonal origin of uterine MLCS.
Topics: Female; Humans; Prognosis; Carcinosarcoma; Endometrial Neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma
PubMed: 36316041
DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20357 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2021The conduits of life; the animal oviducts and human fallopian tubes are of paramount importance for reproduction in amniotes. They connect the ovary with the uterus and... (Review)
Review
The conduits of life; the animal oviducts and human fallopian tubes are of paramount importance for reproduction in amniotes. They connect the ovary with the uterus and are essential for fertility. They provide the appropriate environment for gamete maintenance, fertilization and preimplantation embryonic development. However, serious pathologies, such as ectopic pregnancy, malignancy and severe infections, occur in the oviducts. They can have drastic effects on fertility, and some are life-threatening. Despite the crucial importance of the oviducts in life, relatively little is known about the molecular drivers underpinning the embryonic development of their precursor structures, the Müllerian ducts, and their successive differentiation and maturation. The Müllerian ducts are simple rudimentary tubes comprised of an epithelial lumen surrounded by a mesenchymal layer. They differentiate into most of the adult female reproductive tract (FRT). The earliest sign of Müllerian duct formation is the thickening of the anterior mesonephric coelomic epithelium to form a placode of two distinct progenitor cells. It is proposed that one subset of progenitor cells undergoes partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT), differentiating into immature Müllerian luminal cells, and another subset undergoes complete EMT to become Müllerian mesenchymal cells. These cells invaginate and proliferate forming the Müllerian ducts. Subsequently, pEMT would be reversed to generate differentiated epithelial cells lining the fully formed Müllerian lumen. The anterior Müllerian epithelial cells further specialize into the oviduct epithelial subtypes. This review highlights the key established molecular and genetic determinants of the processes involved in Müllerian duct development and the differentiation of its upper segment into oviducts. Furthermore, an extensive genome-wide survey of mouse knockout lines displaying Müllerian or oviduct phenotypes was undertaken. In addition to widely established genetic determinants of Müllerian duct development, our search has identified surprising associations between loss-of-function of several genes and high-penetrance abnormalities in the Müllerian duct and/or oviducts. Remarkably, these associations have not been investigated in any detail. Finally, we discuss future directions for research on Müllerian duct development and oviducts.
PubMed: 33763415
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.605301