# Ovarian Leydig cells and neural crests

## TL;DR

This study identifies markers for ovarian Leydig cells and explores their development and migration in the ovaries.

## Contribution

The study introduces specific markers and suggests a mechanism for Leydig cell precursor migration.

## Key findings

- SF1 and AR specifically mark intraneural Leydig cell precursors and adult Leydig cells.
- Class III β-tubulin is transiently expressed during precursor migration to the ovaries.
- Findings align with a previously reported case of mature cystic teratoma.

## Abstract

In our search for markers to identify and study ovarian Leydig cells, we utilized immunohistochemical techniques and visualized the results using conventional and confocal microscopy. We successfully employed steroidogenic factor- 1 (SF1), androgen receptor (AR), and class III β-tubulin as markers. SF1 and AR specifically highlighted the intraneural cell precursors of Leydig cells, which were previously identified in a published case of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary, and the adult ovarian Leydig cells. Furthermore, the transient expression of class III β-tubulin could be associated with the intraneural displacement of these precursors, cooperating in their migration to colonize the ovaries of adult women.