Spontaneous Transformation of Rat Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cells: Association With Cytogenetic Changes and Implications of Repeated Ovulation in the Etiology of Ovarian Cancer

Abstract excerpt

BACKGROUND: Ovarian surface epithelial cells undergo several rounds of division to repair the wound created by follicular rupture at the time of ovulation. This cyclical requirement for cell division, when not interrupted by the long anovulatory rest periods that occur during pregnancy and lactation, may contribute to the development of ovarian cancer. PURPOSE AND METHODS: To test this hypothesis, we isolated rat...