Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42363189›Full record

ArticleJournal of ovarian research2026

Making themselves scarce: immune cells in the ovary.

Bettina Toth, Elisabeth Reiser, Samuel M Vorbach, Monika Frank, Lea Huber, Thomas Seppi, Elisabeth Pechriggl, Bettina Böttcher, Katharina Feil, Marko Konschake and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of ovarian research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Bettina TothDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Elisabeth ReiserDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria. elisabeth.reiser@i-med.ac.at.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7952-1284
Samuel M VorbachDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstraße 59, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Monika FrankDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Lea HuberDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Thomas SeppiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstraße 59, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Elisabeth PechrigglDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Bettina BöttcherDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Katharina FeilDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Marko KonschakeDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Ute GanswindtDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstraße 59, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Michael NiederwangerDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

research questionIn human and animal reproduction, the majority of the ovary's reproductive potential is lost before puberty. In order to survive, oocytes must interact with stromal cells. However, the specific distribution and role of ovarian immune cells compared to lymphatic organs is still indistinct.

designImmune cell composition in the ovary, spleen, and lymph nodes was analyzed in six-week-old female C57BL/6 mice using flow cytometry. The following populations were examined: macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, NKT cells, B cells, T cells, CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells.

resultsOnly 3% of the cells that make up the ovary are immune cells. Ovarian immune cells consisted of natural killer cells (24%), T cells including CD4+- and CD8 + T cells (21%), macrophages (17%), dendritic cells (7%), NKT- and B cells (each 11%). In contrast, spleen and lymph nodes were dominated by B and T cells (spleen: 56% and 32%; lymph nodes: 33% and 62%).

conclusionsOvarian immune cells are scarce in healthy young mice. Apart from a relatively large T-cell population, the ovarian immune compartment is dominated by innate immune cells, particularly macrophages and natural killer cells, which is in line with the multifarious role of macrophages in multiple aspects of ovarian physiology. In contrast, adaptive immune cells such as B and T lymphocytes are primarily enriched in secondary lymphoid organs, including the spleen and lymph nodes.

Indexed as

OvaryAnimalsB-LymphocytesDendritic CellsFemaleKiller Cells, NaturalLymph NodesMacrophagesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSpleenAgingImmune cellsOvary

Identifiers

PMID42363189
PMCPMC13573450

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.