Rete Ovarii Rediscovered In Mice

The rete ovarii, an auxiliary secretory organ in women, was first described in 1870 and appeared in early editions of Gray's Anatomy, but it later disappeared from many textbooks and was often dismissed as a functionless ovarian remnant. In 2025, researchers studying mice found that its three interconnected regions persist into adulthood, contain secreted proteins, and transport fluid toward the ovary. Its connections to nerves and blood vessels suggest that it may act as a sensory and secretory structure supporting ovarian development and maintenance. Although the rete ovarii also exists in humans, its proposed function as an auxiliary organ in women remains unconfirmed.

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