scholarly journals Hesperidin improves the follicular development in 3D culture of isolated preantral ovarian follicles of mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 244 (5) ◽  
pp. 352-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Shoorei ◽  
Majid Banimohammad ◽  
Maziar M Kebria ◽  
Mohammad Afshar ◽  
Mohammad MH Taheri ◽  
...  

In vitro follicular culture systems provide optimal culture models for research about the physiology of the ovary and support the clinical practices to achieve competent mature oocytes for in vitro fertilization. In vitro maturation of preantral follicles makes it possible to study the effects of therapeutic agents on various conditions or disorders of the ovary. Nowadays, preventive bioflavonoids against cancer, hypercholesterolemia, fatty liver, or a variety of toxic agents are in focus. The aim of this study was to design and investigate the impacts of different concentrations of hesperidin, a glycoside flavonoid, on the in vitro preantral follicle growth and maturation in the three-dimensional (3D) culture system which was made with sodium alginate. Preantral follicles (n = 1363) were mechanically isolated from immature mice ovaries, then, after capsulating, they were randomly divided into four groups: the control group received no concentration of hesperidin, and three experimental groups were supplemented with 10, 22.5, and 50 µmol/L of hesperidin. All groups were cultured for 12 days. At the end of the culture period, the percentage of survival rate, antrum formation, obtained metaphase II oocytes, and the secretion of 17β-estradiol and progesterone were significantly higher in the group Hesp 50 (50 µmol/L hesperidin). Moreover, the mean average of follicular diameter cultured in the group Hesp 50 was also increased and the mRNA expression levels of PCNA, FSH-R, and Bcl-2 genes were higher, while Bax mRNA expression was significantly reduced compared with the other groups. Follicles cultured in the presence of 50 µmol/L of hesperidin had a higher fertilization rate and embryo development. Adding hesperidin at the concentration of 50 µmol/L to the culture medium resulted in higher follicular growth and maturation and increased the rate of in vitro fertilization and embryo development. Impact statement It has been stated that hesperidin has many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, antimicrobial activity, and anti-carcinogenic activity; but hesperidin and its derivatives have been under investigation as anti-fertility factors for a very long time. However, our results show that hesperidin can improve mice follicular growth and maturation during in vitro 3D culture. Hesperidin as an antioxidant factor could enhance the mRNA expression levels of two important genes involved in folliculogenesis, PCNA, and FSH-R. Our results prove for the first time that hesperidin not only has deleterious effects on follicular development but can also increase rates of in vitro fertilization and embryo development.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozsef Bodis ◽  
Endre Sulyok ◽  
Akos Varnagy ◽  
Viktória Prémusz ◽  
Krisztina Godony ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThis observational clinical study evaluated the expression levels and predictive values of some apoptosis-related genes in granulosa cells (GCs) and follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).Methods GCs and FF were obtained at oocyte retrieval from 31 consecutive patients with heterogeneous infertility diagnosis (age: 34.3±5.8 years, body mass index: 24.02±3.12 kg/m2, duration of infertility: 4.2±2.1 years). mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic (BAX, CASP3, CASP8) and anti-apoptotic (BCL2, AMH, AMHR, FSHR, LHR, CYP19A1) factors was determined by quantitative RT-PCR using ROCHE LightCycler 480. Results No significant difference in GC or FF mRNA expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors could be demonstrated between IVF patients with (9 patients) or without (22 patients) clinical pregnancy. Each transcript investigated was detected in FF, but their levels were markedly reduced and independent of those in GCs. The number of retrieved oocytes was positively associated with GC AMHR (r=0.393, p=0.029), but the day of embryo transfer was negatively associated with GC LHR (r=-0.414, p=0.020) and GC FSHR transcripts (r=-0.535, p=0.002). When pregnancy positive group was analysed separately the impact of apoptosis- related gene expressions on some selected measures of IVF success could be observed. Strong positive relationship was found between gene expression levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors in GCs.ConclusionOur study provides only marginal evidences for the apoptosis dependence of IVF outcome and suggests that the apoptosis process induces adaptive increases of the anti-apoptotic gene expression to attenuate apoptosis and to protect cell survival.


2002 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan J. TarÍn ◽  
Vanessa Gómez-Piquer ◽  
Sonia PÉrez-AlbalÁ ◽  
Carlos Hermenegildo ◽  
Antonio Cano

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Livia Brunetti Apolloni ◽  
Jamily Bezerra Bruno ◽  
Benner Geraldo Alves ◽  
José Ricardo de Figueiredo

Introduction: Steroid hormones production is a physiological process termed steroidogenesis. An important stage of this process is the conversion of androgens into estrogens through aromatase enzyme. Furthermore, androgens are important in the process of folliculogenesis, promoting follicular growth in different species. Thus, the aim of this review was to present the process of synthesis, mechanism of action, and importance of androgens in folliculogenesis. Additionally, the main results of in vitro culture of ovarian cells in the presence of these hormones were emphasized.Review: Folliculogenesis begins in prenatal life in most of species and can be defined as the process of formation, follicular growth, and oocyte maturation. Preantral follicles represent 95% of the follicular population and assisted reproductive technologies have been developed (e.g., Manipulation of Oocytes Enclosed in Preantral Follicles - MOEPF) in order to avoid the great follicle loss that occurs naturally in vivo by atresia. The MOEPF aim to obtain a large number of competent oocytes from preantral follicles and then subject to in vitro maturation, fertilization, and culture for embryo production. However, the development of an efficient medium to ensure the follicular survival and oocyte maturation is the major challenge of this biotechnology. To achieve the success on in vitro culture, the effects of substances as androgens on follicular development have been evaluated. Androgens are steroid hormones produced in theca cells (TC) that are fundamental for follicular growth. These cells provide all the androgens required by the developing follicles for conversion into estrogens by the granulosa cells (GC). Androgens receptors (AR) are localized in cell cytoplasm of all follicular categories, being more expressed in preantral follicles. The androgen pathway initiates through its connection to its receptor, making a complex androgen-AR, that in the nucleus helps on the process of gene transcription related with follicular survival. This mechanism is androgen receptor genomic activity. In addition to genomic action, there is an androgen receptor non-genomic activity. This occurs through activation of AR and its interaction with different signaling molecules located on the cell membrane, triggering events that aid in the follicular development. Regardless of the androgens actions, ovarian cells of several species subjected to in vitro culture have shown the importance of these hormones on the follicle development. Recent studies demonstrated that androgens addition on the culture medium stimulated the activation of preantral follicles (bovine and caprine), antrum formation (swine), survival (non-primate), and oocyte maturation (antral follicles; bovine). Also, some studies suggest that the addition of these hormones on in vitro culture is dose-dependent and species-specific.Conclusion: This review shows the role of androgens in different stages of follicular development and its action as a substrate for steroidogenesis and transcription of genes related to follicular survival and oocyte maturation. However, when these hormones should be added during in vitro follicular culture and which concentration is required remains unclear, being necessary more studies to elucidate these aspects.


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