Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cells (OSEC)

The ovarian surface epithelial cells (OSEC), also called the germinal epithelium of Waldeyer, is a layer of simple squamous-to-cuboidal epithelial cells covering the ovary. These cells are derived from the mesoderm during embryonic development and are closely related to the mesothelium of the peritoneum. OSEC actively participates in cyclical ovulatory follicular rupture and the subsequent repair. Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cells can give rise to surface epithelial-stromal tumor. Studies show that normal OSEC has extensive gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and Cx43 expression whereas ovarian carcinoma cells had less and cAMP and retinoic acid did not change these, although both agents inhibited cell growth. Cultured human ovarian epithelial cells may provide an in vitro model for study of carcinogenesis in human ovarian cancers.