The ovarian follicle as a model for the cell-mediated control of tissue growth.

Thy-1+ cells, producing Thy-1+ material, have been demonstrated by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique in the theca of growing ovarian follicles of the rat. OX-2 antigen, known as the minor glycoprotein of rat thymocytes, was detected in granulosa cells of non-growing follicles. Ia+ cells of dendritic type and/or activated macrophages were identified in the granulosa of advanced degenerating follicles, and remnants of the zona pellucida exhibited immunoglobulins. In some ovaries immunoglobulins were also bound to the zona pellucida of oocytes of early degenerating antral follicles. Medium-sized antral follicles with degenerating granulosa were occasionally invaded by cells carrying antigens of cytotoxic T lymphocytes or other T lymphocyte subsets, while degenerating large antral follicles were sometimes invaded by cells exhibiting antigen of cells with natural killer function (but not antigens of T lymphocytes). Granulosa cells of some degenerating antral follicles exhibited class-I antigens derived from the major histocompatibility complex. We suggest that cell-mediated control mechanisms of antigen expression and metabolism of tissue cells during their differentiation and degeneration should be considered in addition to the well-documented hormonal dependence of some tissues.