Restoration of estrous cycles by co-transplantation of mouse ovarian tissue with MSCs

This study investigates the effect of bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and visceral peritoneum (VP-MSCs)-derived mesenchymal stem cells on the transplanted ovary. VP-MSCs and BM-MSCs were obtained from green fluorescent protein-expressing mice (GFP⁺). Six- to eight-week-old female NMRI mice were divided into four experimental groups, autograft ovarian tissue fragments (AO), autograft ovarian tissue fragments encapsulated in fibrin-collagen hydrogel (AO-H), autograft ovarian tissue fragments encapsulated in fibrin-collagen hydrogel containing BM-MSCs (AO-HB) and autograft ovarian tissue fragments encapsulated in fibrin-collagen hydrogel containing VP-MSCs (AO-HP). Intact ovary (IO) was the control group. The estrous cycles resumption time was monitored and at the third estrous cycle, the blood samples and grafted ovaries were evaluated using hormonal, histological and gene expression analysis. Onset of estrous cycles, especially at the second cycle, was earlier in AO-HB and AO-HP groups than in the AO-H group (P < 0.05). Moreover, E2 and FSH levels in AO-HB and AO-HP groups were returned to those of the intact group. However, folliculogenesis was still retarded as compared with the IO group. The gene expression of theca (Lhcgr, Cyp17a1, Gli2, Gli3 and Ptch1), granulosa (Amh and Fshr), oocyte (Zp3 and Gdf9), germ cells (Stella and Prdm1), angiogenesis (VEGF and bFGF) and apoptosis (Bax/Bcl2 and Caspase3) markers was similar in both AO-HB and AO-HP groups. Expression of Amh, Fshr, Gdf9 and VEGF increased only in the AO-HP group whereas expression of Ptch1 increased only in the AO-HB group, as compared with the AO group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BM-MSCs or VP-MSCs can improve ovarian autotransplantation in mice with no superiority over each other.