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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2011 May 18;22(9):345–352. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2011.04.005

Table 1.

Ovarian leukocyte species, localization and functions

Cell type Location Possible Function(s) References
Monocyte/macrophage periphery of follicles, tunica albugenia, corpora lutea, IL-8 secretion, luteal regression [5, 22, 99–111]
Neutrophils theca layer, corpora lutea production of proteolytic enzymes, ECM degradation, follicle maturation, ovulation, luteal formation [5, 22, 110, 112, 113]
Lymphocytes hilus, stroma, corpora lutea selection of dominant follicle, luteal formation, luteal regression [5, 101, 107, 110]
NK-cells follicle, corpora lutea angiogenesis [114]
Mast cells medulla, cortex, interstitium, corpora lutea ECM degradation, ovulation [109, 115, 116]
Eosinophils theca layer, corpora lutea ECM degradation, neovascularization [111, 116, 117]