Cellular atlas of the human ovary using morphologically guided spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Endocrinology
• Genomics

Background:

• Ovarian reproductive and endocrine functions rely on specialized cell interactions.
• Functional characteristics of ovarian cells remain largely uninvestigated.
• Understanding ovarian cell function is critical for fertility and endocrine health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the functional attributes of ovarian cells.
• To identify specific gene activities within distinct ovarian cell populations.
• To create a comprehensive spatial and single-cell atlas of the human ovary.

Main Methods:

• Gene expression profiling of 257 ovarian regions from premenopausal donors.
• Single-cell RNA sequencing of 21,198 ovarian cells.
• Analysis of spatial gene activity in oocytes, theca, and granulosa cells.

Main Results:

• Identification of four major cell types and four immune cell subtypes in the ovary.
• Discovery of distinct gene expression profiles for oocytes, theca, and granulosa cells.
• Uncovered previously unknown variations in hormone and extracellular matrix remodeling activities across ovarian regions.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a valuable resource for understanding ovarian cell function and follicle development.
• The generated atlas expands knowledge of molecular programs governing ovarian processes.
• This research facilitates future studies on rare ovarian cells and diseases.