Intercellular junctions in the human developing preovulatory follicle and corpus luteum.

Using the lanthanum tracer and freeze-fracture techniques, the cell contacts of human ovarian cells were examined. The cell contacts between theca interna cells are similar to those seen between luteal cells are composed of septate-like cell contacts and gap junctions. On the other hand granulosa cells are connected by desmosomes and gap junctions. Thus, at least from the viewpoint of cell junctions, it is suggested that the main precursory cells of the luteal cells are the theca interna cells, although there is a general agreement that the luteal cells are derived from the granulosa cells.