Mouse Ovary Tissue - 40x
The digital image shown above is a three-dimensional reconstruction of mouse ovary tissue sections. The mouse ovary is often used in research to study diseases that affect human ovaries, such as ovarian cancer or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or to gain a better understanding of the reproductive organs in general. PCOS, the common symptoms of which include acne, obesity, irregular menstruation, infertility and hyperandrogenism, is the most prevalent hormonal disorder affecting women between the ages of 12 and 45 years old. Ovarian cancer is less prevalent, but is a very serious disease that has a history of being referred to as the “silent killer” because in most cases the cancer has spread to other organs by the time a diagnosis is made.