Origin of ovarian follicle cells in birds

Summary In the embryonic Japanese quail ovary, transplanted on chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), follicle cells are derived from somatic cells of the ovarian surface epithelium. No evidence was found for a contribution of other cell groups of the quail ovary in the formation of follicle cells. This may be demonstrated on PAS stained sections, by following the transfer of carbon particles, initially applied on the surface epithelium.The author is very grateful to Prof.L. Vakaet, R.U.C.A. Antwerp, for his valuables suggestions, and to MissC. van Hoecke for her technical assistance.