Minireview: stem cell contribution to ovarian development, function, and disease.

By virtue of the fact that oocytes not only serve to produce embryos after fertilization but also can effectively reprogram adult somatic cell nuclei to a pluripotent state, much of the interest in the role of stem cells in ovarian biology has been focused on the germline. However, very recent studies have revealed that somatic stem cells may also be of considerable relevance to the study of normal ovarian function. Furthermore, stem cell dysfunction may underlie or contribute to disease states such as ovarian cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome. Our objective is to explore these concepts in greater detail, with the hope of stimulating further research efforts into understanding what role stem cells may play in the physiology and pathology of the mammalian female gonads.