Scientific Challenge 2
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Building and atlas of ovarian tissue markers
Understanding the cellular physiology of human ovarian tissue across different follicular stages is essential for advancing fertility preservation strategies. Whether studying healthy ovarian dynamics or characterizing tissue from specific patient populations (prepubertal individuals, patients exposed to gonadotoxic or long-term hormonal treatments, those with premature ovarian insufficiency, or women with genetic conditions) reliable immunohistochemical markers are key to capturing the biological processes occurring in oocytes, granulosa and theca cells, as well as the surrounding extracellular matrix and stroma.
In this challenge, we invite researchers working in basic and translational science to contribute to a shared map of ovarian tissue markers. By comparing staining strategies, marker combinations, and interpretation standards across laboratories, we can collectively improve ovarian tissue profiling and foster collaboration within the fertility preservation community.
Together, let us pool our expertise to define the molecular fingerprints of the ovary and build a robust reference resource to drive innovation in fertility preservation.
Selected Immunohistochemical Markers of Ovarian Tissue
| Main cell type | Marker (acronym) | protein type | Function in the ovary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oocytes | DDX4 (VASA) | Germ cell–specific RNA helicase | Identifies germ cells; quantifies ovarian reserve |
| Oocytes | c-KIT (CD117) | Tyrosine kinase receptor | Marker of primordial follicle activation; promotes oocyte activation and growth |
| Oocytes | FOXO family (FOXO1, p-FOXO3a) | Transcription factors | Markers of primordial follicle activation; nucleus-to-cytoplasm shift initiates transcription for follicle growth |
| Granulosa cells | FOXL2 | Transcription factor | Maintains granulosa cell identity during folliculogenesis |
| Granulosa cells | KIT Ligand (KITL/SCF) | Growth factor (ligand for c-KIT) | Promotes oocyte activation and growth |
| Granulosa cells | Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) | Transcriptional co-activator (Hippo pathway) | Cytoplasm-to-nucleus shift promotes granulosa cell proliferation and survival |
| Oocytes / Granulosa cells | LC3B | Marker of mature autophagosomes | Indicates autophagosome formation and cellular stress response |
| Oocytes / Granulosa cells | mTOR
(p-mTOR, p-RPS6) |
Kinase (growth/survival pathway) | Regulates cell growth and protein synthesis in growing follicles |
How to Contribute
We encourage colleagues to take part in this collective effort by:
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Listing the imunomarkers you have used and validated in human ovarian tissue.
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Specifying the cell type(s) or study condition in which the marker was studied.
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Providing references to the original publications or validation studies.
By sharing these data, we can create a more comprehensive atlas of ovarian tissue markers and strengthen collaboration within the fertility preservation community.
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