Theca interna cells express receptors for

luteinizing hormone Luteinizing hormone (LH, also known as luteinising hormone, lutropin and sometimes lutrophin) is a hormone produced by gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland. The production of LH is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (G ...

(LH) to produce androstenedione, which via a few steps, gives the granulosa the precursor for

estrogen Estrogen (also spelled oestrogen in British English; see spelling differences) is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three ...

manufacturing. After rupture of the mature

ovarian follicle An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries. It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle. In humans, women have approximately 200,000 to 300,000 follicles at the time of puberty, ea ...

, the theca interna cells differentiate into the theca lutein cells of the

corpus luteum The corpus luteum (Latin for "yellow body"; : corpora lutea) is a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries involved in the production of relatively high levels of progesterone, and moderate levels of estradiol, and inhibin A. It is the ...

. Theca lutein cells secrete

androgen An androgen (from Greek ''andr-'', the stem of the word meaning ) is any natural or synthetic steroid hormone that regulates the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. This includes ...

s and

progesterone Progesterone (; P4) is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species. It belongs to a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens and is the ma ...

. Theca lutein cells are also known as small luteal cells.The IUPS Physiome Project --> Female Reproductive System - Cells
Retrieved on Nov 9, 2009

References

External links

* * - "Mammal, canine ovary (LM, High)" * - "Mammal, bovine ovary (LM, Medium)" * - interna *
Slide at trinity.edu
Endocrine system anatomy Mammal female reproductive system Steroid hormone secreting cells Human female endocrine system {{genitourinary-stub

See also

References

External links