Surface coat in steroid-secreting cells of the mouse ovary

Abstract

Steroid-secreting cells (luteal, thecal and interstitial cells) of the mouse ovary have been studied with the ruthenium red method to stain the "cell coat". The results showed that a typical cell coat covers the entire surface of the plasma membrane except where the cells are connected by specific cell junctions. Further, particularly heavy concentration of ruthenium-red-reacting material was demonstrated in pericapillary and intercellular spaces. The differences in the thickness of the cell coat and its topographical modifications among different groups of steroidogenic cells may be related not only to intercellular adhesion and interactions but also concerned with a function of control in which the cell permeability is modified in relation with phenomena of cell recognition.