Granulosa Cells
Fueling Fertility, Balancing Hormones
(Originally published on Medium by Sci-Illustrate Stories: The League of Extraordinary Cell Types)
I’m excited to share my latest article with Sci-Illustrate Stories, this time exploring the powerhouse cells at the center of ovarian biology: granulosa cells.
Often overshadowed by the oocyte they support, granulosa cells are anything but passive. These somatic support cells orchestrate every stage of follicle development, decode hormonal cues, fuel estrogen and progesterone synthesis, and ultimately help determine fertility outcomes. Their coordination with the oocyte and responsiveness to FSH and LH shape the entire reproductive timeline — from follicle recruitment all the way to ovulation and luteinization.
This piece breaks down how granulosa cells develop, specialize, communicate, and transform, while also highlighting what happens when their finely tuned machinery goes awry in conditions like PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, and granulosa cell tumors. I also spotlight several leading labs whose work continues to expand our understanding of these remarkable cells.
🔗 Read the full feature on Medium:
👉 Granulosa Cells — Fueling Fertility, Balancing Hormones
🖋️ Credits:
Art by Olga Kurkina | Animation by Dr. Emanuele Petretto | Words by Dr. Christy Kestner
Project Coordinator: Dr. Masia Małgorzata Maksymowicz-Trivedi | Series Director: Dr. Radhika Patnala
Published by Sci-Illustrate & Endosymbiont
About the series:
The League of Extraordinary Cell types
The team at Sci-Illustrate and Endosymbiont bring to you an exciting series where we dive deep into the wondrous cell types in our body, that make our hearts tick ❤.
Thank you for sharing : )