scholarly journals Concentrated exosomes from menstrual blood-derived stromal cells improves ovarian activity in a rat model of premature ovarian insufficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siwen Zhang ◽  
Boxian Huang ◽  
Peng Su ◽  
Qiyuan Chang ◽  
Pingping Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Menstrual Blood ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Estrous Cyclicity

Abstract Background Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is one of the major causes of infertility. We previously demonstrated that transplantation of menstrual blood-derived stromal cells (MenSCs) effectively improved ovarian function in a murine model of POI. Recent studies indicated that mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were important components in tissue repair. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of MenSCs-derived exosomes (MenSCs-Exos) in a rat model of POI and its mechanism in restoring ovulation. Methods Ovaries of 4.5-day-old Sprague Dawley rats (SD rats) were cultured in vitro to evaluate the effects of MenSCs-Exos exposure on early follicle development. Furthermore, POI in rats was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). Forty-eight POI rats were randomly assigned to four groups, each receiving a different treatment: PBS, MenSCs, MenSCs-Exos, and Exo-free culture supernatant of MenSCs. Estrous cyclicity, ovarian morphology, follicle dynamics, serum hormones, pregnancy outcomes, and molecular changes were investigated. Results Exposure to MenSCs-Exos promoted the proliferation of granulosa cells in primordial and primary follicles in vitro and increased the expression of early follicle markers Deleted In Azoospermia Like (DAZL) and Forkhead Box L2 (FOXL2) while inhibiting follicle apoptosis. In vivo, MenSCs-Exos transplantation effectively promoted follicle development in the rat model of POI and restored the estrous cyclicity and serum sex hormone levels, followed by improving the live birth outcome. In addition, transplantation of MenSCs-Exos regulated the composition of the ovarian extracellular matrix and accelerated the recruitment of dormant follicles in the ovarian cortex and increased proliferation of granulosa cells in these follicles. Conclusion MenSCs-Exos markedly promoted follicle development in vitro and in vivo and restored fertility in POI rats, suggesting a restorative effect on ovarian functions. The therapeutic effect of MenSCs-Exos transplantation was sustainable, consistent with that of MenSCs transplantation. Our results suggested that MenSCs-Exos transplantation may be a promising cell-free bioresource in the treatment of POI.

scholarly journals Analysis of in vitro follicle development during the onset of premature ovarian insufficiency in a mouse model

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidy Kaune ◽  
Sairah Sheikh ◽  
Suzannah A. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Growth Morphology ◽  
Follicle Growth ◽  
Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
And Control

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) occurs in 1% of women under 40 years of age and is predominantly idiopathic. In a transgenic mouse model of follicular POI, the Double Mutant (DM), female mice are fertile at 6 weeks of age, become infertile by 9 weeks and exhibit POI by 3 months. DM female mice generate oocytes lacking mucin O-glycans and complex N-glycans due to deletion of core 1 synthase, glycoprotein-N-acetylgalactosamine 3-β-galactosyltransferase 1 (C1galt1) and mannoside acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 (Mgat1) respectively (DM, C1galt1F/FMgat1F/F:ZP3Cre; Control, C1galt1F/FMgat1F/F). To determine whether DM follicle development could be improved in a controlled environment, follicles from DM and Control mice were cultured individually and follicle growth, morphology, survival and antrum formation were evaluated. DM ovaries were more rigid than Control ovaries at 3, 6 and 9 weeks, which was exacerbated with age, resulting in a failure to isolate follicles from 9 week-old DM females. DM follicles had decreased survival compared with Control follicles from females at 3 and 6 weeks of age. Furthermore, survival rate of DM follicles decreased with age between 3 and 6 weeks. DM follicles at both 3 and 6 weeks had accelerated follicle growth and altered antrum formation during the first few days of culture but, after 6 days, follicles were equivalent in size to the Controls. In conclusion, a population of DM follicles retain the potential to develop in vitro, and therefore follicle culture offers a reliable method to generate antral follicles from preantral follicles after the onset of POI in these female mice.

scholarly journals In vitro and in vivo mouse follicle development in ovaries and reaggregated ovaries

Reproduction ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda K M Lo ◽  
Sairah Sheikh ◽  
Suzannah A Williams
Keyword(s):  
Cell Function ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Culture Technique ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Host Mouse

Follicle development requires complex and coordinated interactions between both the oocyte and its associated somatic cells. In ovarian dysfunction, follicle development may be abnormal due to defective somatic cell function; for example, premature ovarian insufficiency or malignancies. Replacing defective somatic cells, using the reaggregated ovary (RO) technique, may ‘rescue’ follicle development. ROs containing mature follicles have been generated when transplanted to a host mouse to develop. We have developed a RO culture technique and the aims were to determine how follicle development differed between transplanted and cultured ROs, and the influence of ovarian age (P2 vs P6). Mouse ROs were cultured for 14 days; P2 and P6 ovaries cultured as Controls. Follicle development was compared to ROs transplanted for 14 days and ovaries from P16 and P20 mice. ROs generated from either P2 or P6 exhibited similar follicle development in culture whereas in vivo follicle development was more advanced in P6 ROs. Follicles were more developed in cultured ROs than transplanted ROs. However, follicles in cultured ROs and ovaries had smaller oocytes with fewer theca and granulosa cells than in vivo counterparts. Our results demonstrate the fluidity of follicle development despite ovary dissociation and that environment is more important to basal lamina formation and theca cell development. Furthermore, follicle development within cultured ROs appears to be independent of oocyte nest breakdown and primordial follicle formation in source ovaries. Our results highlight the need for understanding follicle development in vitro, particularly in the development of the RO technique as a potential fertility treatment.

scholarly journals Intrinsic Angiogenic Potential and Migration Capacity of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived from Menstrual Blood and Bone Marrow

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 9563
Author(s):  
Rosana de Almeida Santos ◽  
Karina Dutra Asensi ◽  
Julia Helena Oliveira de Barros ◽  
Rafael Campos Silva de Menezes ◽  
Ingrid Rosenburg Cordeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
3D Culture ◽  
Menstrual Blood ◽  
Paracrine Effects ◽  
Angiogenic Potential ◽  
And Migration

Several therapies are being developed to increase blood circulation in ischemic tissues. Despite bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (bmMSC) are still the most studied, an interesting and less invasive MSC source is the menstrual blood, which has shown great angiogenic capabilities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the angiogenic properties of menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (mbMSC) in vitro and in vivo and compared to bmMSC. MSC’s intrinsic angiogenic capacity was assessed by sprouting and migration assays. mbMSC presented higher invasion and longer sprouts in 3D culture. Additionally, both MSC-spheroids showed cells expressing CD31. mbMSC and bmMSC were able to migrate after scratch wound in vitro, nonetheless, only mbMSC demonstrated ability to engraft in the chick embryo, migrating to perivascular, perineural, and chondrogenic regions. In order to study the paracrine effects, mbMSC and bmMSC conditioned mediums were capable of stimulating HUVEC’s tube-like formation and migration. Both cells expressed VEGF-A and FGF2. Meanwhile, PDGF-B was expressed exclusively in mbMSC. Our results indicated that mbMSC and bmMSC presented a promising angiogenic potential. However, mbMSC seems to have additional advantages since it can be obtained by non-invasive procedure and expresses PDGF-B, an important molecule for vascular formation and remodeling.

scholarly journals Synergistic inhibition of csal1 and csal3 in granulosa cell proliferation and steroidogenesis of hen ovarian prehierarchical development†

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 986-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyan Zhu ◽  
Ning Qin ◽  
Xiaoxing Xu ◽  
Xue Sun ◽  
Xiaoxia Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Translocation Mechanism ◽  
Development In Vitro

Abstract SALL1 and SALL3 are transcription factors that play an essential role in regulating developmental processes and organogenesis in many species. However, the functional role of SALL1 and SALL3 in chicken prehierarchical follicle development is unknown. This study aimed to explore the potential role and mechanism of csal1 and csal3 in granulosa cell proliferation, differentiation, and follicle selection within the prehierarchical follicles of hen ovary. Our data demonstrated that the csal1 and csal3 transcriptions were highly expressed in granulosa cells of prehierarchical follicles, and their proteins were mainly localized in the cytoplasm of granulosa cells and oocytes as well as in the ovarian stroma and epithelium. It initially revealed that both csal1 and csal3 may be involved in chicken prehierarchical follicle development via a translocation mechanism. Furthermore, our results showed an abundance of CCND1, Bcat, StAR, CYP11A1, and FSHR mRNA in granulosa cells, and the proliferation levels of granulosa cells from the prehierarchical follicles were significantly increased by siRNA-mediated knockdown of csal1 or/and csal3. Conversely, the overexpression of csal1 or/and csal3 in the granulosa cells led to a remarkably decreased of them. Moreover, csal1 and csal3 together exert a much stronger effect on the regulation than any of csal1 or csal3. These results indicated that csal1 and csal3 play synergistic inhibitory roles on granulosa cell proliferation, differentiation, and steroidogenesis during prehierarchical follicle development in vitro. The current data provide a basis of molecular mechanisms of csal1 and csal3 in controlling the prehierarchical follicle development and growth of hen ovary in vivo.

scholarly journals Regulation of Ovarian Primordial Follicle Assembly and Development by Estrogen and Progesterone: Endocrine Model of Follicle Assembly

Endocrinology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 144 (8) ◽  
pp. 3329-3337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip Kezele ◽  
Michael K. Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Calf Serum ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Newborn Rat ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Primordial Follicles

Abstract The assembly of the developmentally arrested primordial follicle and the subsequent transition of the primordial follicle to the primary follicle are critical processes in normal ovarian physiology that remain to be elucidated. Ovarian follicles do not proliferate and the primordial follicles present in the neonate represent the total number of gametes available to a female throughout her reproductive life. The primordial follicles are oocytes surrounded by less differentiated squamous granulosa cells and are derived from oocyte nests, and primary follicles are oocytes surrounded by a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells that have initiated follicle development. Abnormalities in primordial follicle assembly, arrest, and development (i.e. primordial to primary follicle transition) can cause pathological conditions such as premature ovarian failure. In this study newborn rat ovaries were cultured for 7 d. The rate of primordial follicle assembly in vivo was identical with the rate in vitro. Interestingly, the rate of primordial follicle transition to the primary follicle was found to be 3 times greater in culture. This abnormal rate of primary follicle development in culture suggests the primordial follicle does not arrest in development as observed in vivo. To investigate this phenomena newborn rat ovaries were cultured in the presence of progesterone, estradiol or calf serum. Estradiol, progesterone, or calf serum significantly reduced the level of initial primordial to primary follicle transition. Approximately 60% of follicles make the primordial to primary follicle transition in control ovaries and about 30% in treated ovaries. Steroids and calf serum had no effect on the primordial to primary follicle transition in ovaries collected and cultured from postnatal 4-d-old rats, suggesting the effects observed are restricted to the initial wave of primordial to primary follicle transition. Interestingly, progesterone was also found to significantly reduce the rate of primordial follicle assembly. All viable oocytes assembled into primordial follicles in control ovaries and approximately 40% remained unassembled in progesterone-treated ovaries. Progesterone was also found to reduce primordial follicle assembly in vivo with 10% of the total follicles remaining unassembled in progesterone injected neonatal animals. Analysis of cellular apoptosis demonstrated that progesterone inhibited the coordinated oocyte apoptosis required for primordial follicle assembly. The hypothesis developed is that high levels of maternal and fetal steroids prevent premature primordial follicle assembly and primordial to primary follicle transition in the embryo. After birth steroid levels fall dramatically and the primordial follicles are free to assemble and initiate development. These observations suggest a novel role for steroids and the maternal-fetal endocrine unit in the control of ovarian primordial follicle assembly and early follicular development.

scholarly journals Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Improve Ovarian Function and Proliferation of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency by Regulating the Hippo Signaling Pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongkang Li ◽  
Mingle Zhang ◽  
Jiahua Zheng ◽  
Yanpeng Tian ◽  
Huihui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cell ◽  
Umbilical Cord ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Human Umbilical Cord ◽  
Ovarian Insufficiency

BackgroundPremature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is associated with severe physical damage and psychological burden on women. Transplantation of exosomes is an encouraging regenerative medicine method, which has the potential for restoring ovarian functions on POI with high efficiency. This study aims at evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUCMSC-Exos) on ovarian dysfunction of POI and the role of Hippo pathway in this exosome-mediated treatment.MethodsPOI mice models were established through intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. Subsequently, transplantation of hUCMSC-Exos was conducted to administer POI mice. Ovaries and plasma of these mice models were harvested after two weeks of treatment. Ovarian morphology and follicle number were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, ELISA was used to detect hormone levels, which are related to ovarian function in serum. To assess the recovery of reproductive ability, we recorded the rate of pregnancy, the amount of offspring, and the time of birth in different groups. To explore the underlying mechanisms of exosome-mediated treatment for ovarian function recovery, the proliferation of ovarian cells in vivo was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, we conducted EdU and CCK-8 assays to assess the proliferative ability of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) that were cultured in vitro. Western blot analysis was conducted to estimate the proteins levels of Hippo- and proliferation-associated molecules in vivo and in vitro.ResultsAfter transplantation of hUCMSC-Exos, the ovarian function-related hormone levels and the number of ovarian follicles returned to nearly normal degrees. Meanwhile, there was a significant improvement in reproductive outcomes after exosomal treatment. Furthermore, the improvement of ovarian function and proliferation was associated with the regulation of Hippo pathway. In vitro, co-culture with exosomes significantly elevated the proliferation of ovarian GCs by regulating Hippo pathway. However, the positive effects on the proliferation of GCs were significantly depressed when key Hippo pathway molecule was inhibited.ConclusionThis study suggested that hUCMSC-Exos promoted ovarian functions and proliferation by regulating the Hippo pathway. Therefore, exosomal transplantation could be a promising and efficient clinical therapy for POI in the near future.

scholarly journals Regulation of Follicular Atresia by WIP1-Mediated Apoptosis and Autophagy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Zhou ◽  
Yueyue Xi ◽  
Yingying Chen ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Meng Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Signal Pathway ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Follicular Atresia ◽  
Wip1 Phosphatase

Abstract Female endocrine homeostasis and reproductive success depend on the number and quality of follicles. The follicle is the basic functional unit within mammalian ovaries. Excessive follicular atresia is responsible for the accelerated ovarian aging process. Therefore, exploring the molecular mechanism of follicle development and atresia is essential for protecting ovarian function. In this study, we interrogate the striking correlation between follicular atresia and wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1) expression in mouse ovaries to understand how WIP1 phosphatase activity regulates follicle development. WIP1 is mainly expressed in granulosa cells of healthy growing follicles, and atretic follicles exhibit significantly weaker WIP1 expression compared with the healthy ones. Our in vivo study indicates that inhibition of WIP1 phosphatase activity causes endocrine disorder, fertility decline and decreased ovarian reserve by triggering excessive follicular atresia through promoting autophagy and apoptosis. By in vitro follicle culture, we determine that inhibiting the WIP1 activity impairs the follicle development, causing more follicular atresia and decreased oocyte quality. Besides, downregulating WIP1 expression in granulosa cells in vitro also promotes apoptosis and autophagy via WIP1-p53 and WIP1-mTOR signal pathway. Our findings from the in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that appropriate Wip1 expression is required for follicle development. Downregulation of WIP1 expression accelerates follicle atresia via WIP1-p53 and WIP1-mTOR signal pathway related apoptosis and autophagy. It is speculated that moderate up-regulation of WIP1 expression may help delaying the decline of ovarian reserve.

scholarly journals Human adipose-derived stromal cells transplantation prolongs reproductive lifespan on mouse models of mild and severe premature ovarian insufficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Salvatore ◽  
Massimo De Felici ◽  
Susanna Dolci ◽  
Cosimo Tudisco ◽  
Rosella Cicconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Human Adipose Tissue ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Ovarian Insufficiency ◽  
Oocyte Competence ◽  
Adipose Derived Stromal Cells ◽  
Developmental Capacity ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Background Although recent studies have investigated the ability of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) to alleviate short-term ovarian damage in animal models of chemotherapy-induced Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), no data are available on reproductive lifespan recovery, especially in a severe POI condition. For this reason, we investigated the potential of MSCs isolated from human adipose tissue (hASCs), since they are easy to harvest and abundant, in ameliorating the length and performance of reproductive life in both mild and severe chemotherapy-induced murine POI models. Methods Mild and severe POI models were established by intraperitoneally administering a light (12 mg/kg busulfan + 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide) or heavy (30 mg/kg busulfan + 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide) dose of chemotherapy, respectively, in CD1 mice. In both cases, a week later, 1 × 106 hASCs were transplanted systemically through the tail vein. After four additional weeks, some females were sacrificed to collect ovaries for morphological evaluation. H&E staining was performed to assess stroma alteration and to count follicle numbers; immunofluorescence staining for αSMA was used to analyse vascularization. Of the remaining females, some were mated after superovulation to collect 2-cell embryos in order to evaluate their pre-implantation developmental capacity in vitro, while others were naturally mated to monitor litters and reproductive lifespan length. F1 litters’ weight, ovaries and reproductive lifespan were also analysed. Results hASC transplantation alleviated ovarian weight loss and size decrease and reduced alterations on ovarian stroma and vasculature, concurrently preventing the progressive follicle stockpile depletion caused by chemotherapy. These effects were associated with the preservation of the oocyte competence to develop into blastocyst in vitro and, more interestingly, with a significant decrease of chemotherapy-induced POI features, like shortness of reproductive lifespan, reduced number of litters and longer time to plug (the latter only presented in the severe POI model). Conclusion Human ASC transplantation was able to significantly reduce all the alterations induced by the chemotherapeutic treatment, while improving oocyte quality and prolonging reproductive functions, thus counteracting infertility. These results, strengthened by the use of an outbred model, support the potential applications of hASCs in women with POI, nowadays mainly induced by anticancer therapies. Graphic abstract

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