Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2025

Collection of Serum- and Feeder-free Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-conditioned Medium for a Cell-free Approach
09:32

Collection of Serum- and Feeder-free Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-conditioned Medium for a Cell-free Approach

Published on: January 8, 2017

10.2K

BDNF secreted by mesenchymal stem cells improves aged oocyte quality and development potential by activating the

Jing Zhou1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, Cheng Li1,2,3,4,5,6,7, Xin Mi1,2,3,4,5,6,7

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.

Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS
|March 24, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mesenchymal stem cell secretome improves oocyte quality in aged mice and humans. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the key component, enhancing oocyte development via ERK1/2 pathway activation.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Stem cell research
  • Molecular mechanisms of aging

Background:

  • Age-related decline in oocyte quality significantly impacts fertility.
  • Current treatments for reduced oocyte quality are limited.
  • Mesenchymal stem cell secretome (MSC-sec) shows potential for improving oocyte quality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify the active component within MSC-sec responsible for improving oocyte quality.
  • Elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which MSC-sec enhances oocyte quality in aged individuals.
  • Investigate the efficacy of MSC-sec and its components in both mouse and human oocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Immunofluorescence and chromosome spread analysis on aged mouse oocytes.
  • In vitro and in vivo experiments using BDNF and its neutralization antibody.
  • RNA-sequencing to analyze maternal mRNA degradation.
  • In vitro culture of aged human oocytes.

Main Results:

  • MSC-sec treatment improved spindle assembly and reduced aneuploidy in aged mouse oocytes.
  • BDNF was identified as the key component in MSC-sec that enhances oocyte quality.
  • BDNF activated the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, increasing DAZL and BTG4 expression.
  • BDNF treatment improved fertilization and blastocyst formation rates in aged human oocytes.

Conclusions:

  • BDNF secreted by MSCs effectively improves oocyte quality and developmental potential in aged mice and humans.
  • The ERK1/2 signaling pathway is crucial for BDNF-mediated oocyte quality enhancement.
  • BDNF presents a promising therapeutic strategy to counteract age-related oocyte quality decline.
Keywords:
AneuploidyBDNFERK1/2 pathwayMesenchymal stem cellsOocyte quality

More Related Videos

Single Myofiber Culture Assay for the Assessment of Adult Muscle Stem Cell Functionality Ex Vivo09:19

Single Myofiber Culture Assay for the Assessment of Adult Muscle Stem Cell Functionality Ex Vivo

Published on: February 15, 2021

4.7K
Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells09:38

Preparation of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells Suitable for Culturing Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: June 21, 2012

90.7K

Related Concept Videos

Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
63.3K
Mesenchymal Stem Cells01:19

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their...
4.6K
Stem Cell Niche01:26

Stem Cell Niche

The stem cell niche is the dynamic microenvironment where stem cells reside. Inside these niches, the cells may remain undifferentiated, undergo high self-renewal, or become lineage-specific progenitors. Stem cells coexist with other niche cells, such as stromal cells. They also interact closely with the ECM. Cell-cell and cell-matrix communication occur via adhesion molecules or soluble factors that signal the stem cells and determine their fate. Stromal cells also provide survival signals to...
5.0K
Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell01:06

Multipotency and Niche of Bulge Stem Cell

A hair follicle or HF is a small part of the skin that produces the hair shaft. Paul Gerson Unna was the first to observe a bulge in the human hair follicle's outer root sheath (ORS). The bulge is present between the sebaceous gland and the arrector pili muscle and is the niche for hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). The bulge is also a niche for melanocyte stem cells, and their loss results in graying of hair. The HFSCs express Sox9 and Lhx2, which help them maintain stemness and prevent...
3.3K
Maintenance of the ES Cell State01:14

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
2.1K