The matrisome, methods, analytical evaluation and potential of decellularized porcine ovaries for fertility...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is being investigated as an innovative artificial ovary 3D scaffold for fertility preservation in humans and animals who are unable to utilise traditional reproductive biotechnologies. This review provides an overview of the ovarian matrisome in native and decellularized ECM (dECM) of pigs, mice and humans. A substantial proportion of components identified in porcine ovarian dECM were also reported in native human ECM, particularly collagens and proteoglycans, while comparisons with murine ovarian ECM (native and decellularized) reveal shared components in these groups as well as in glycoproteins. This indicates a considerable degree of shared core ECM proteins across species and positions porcine ECM as a promising matrix for interspecies applications, including those aimed at humans. The ovarian ECM may provide a favourable environment for the development of oocytes, follicles, or cells from different species during follicle culture or in vitro gametogenesis. However, its composition can vary depending on the ovarian region, the age of the organ, and the decellularization protocol applied. Despite these variations, studies using porcine ovarian dECM have demonstrated follicular growth, oestradiol secretion, embryo formation, and live births in murine models, supporting its potential role in ovarian function recovery. Nevertheless, optimisation of decellularization protocols and rigorous analytical evaluation remain necessary to assess process efficiency and ECM preservation, improving the estimation of its functional efficacy in fertility preservation. In conclusion, porcine ovarian dECM represents a promising natural alternative to synthetic support matrices for fertility preservation techniques in patients and animals.