Figure 12.

Human ovarian epithelial stem cell cultures (representative images from four experiments): untreated (A and B); pre-treated for 1 day with E2 and 1h after TP+PG treatment (C-G); pre-treated for 1 day with E2 and 3h after TS+PG treatment (H-O). Lack of SSEA-1 expression (A) and moderate Thy-1 expression by some epithelial cells (B). SSEA-1 is strongly expressed in some small cells resembling stem cells (black vs. white arrowheads, C and D) and one of the cells originating by asymmetric division (E). Similar cells show strong expression of Thy-1 (F). The NCAM expression was also detected in some cells (G). Two hours later, the cells reached neuronal morphology and exhibited SSEA-1 expression in the cell bodies but not extending processes (H, black vs. white arrowheads), Thy-1 and NCAM expression in both (I and J, black arrowheads), and SSEA-4 expression slightly exceeding that of SSEA-1 (K vs. H). No staining was observed in the immunohistochemistry control (L). Panels M-O show phase contrast microscopy with neuronal and epithelial cells (M), floating numerous putative NSC (N), and putative NSC exhibiting bubble type anchors (arrowheads, O). Numbers above bars indicate microns. For details see text. Adapted from Ref. [138], © Landes Bioscience.