Granulosa Cells Improved Mare Oocyte Cytoplasmic Maturation by Providing Collagens

3D hUC-MSC spheroids exhibit superior resistance to autophagy and apoptosis of granulosa cells in POF rat model

In brief

This study reveals that orthotopic transplantation of 3D hUC-MSC spheroids is more effective than monolayer-cultured hUC-MSCs in improving POF and distinctly reducing oxidative stress through the paracrine effect, thereby preventing apoptosis and autophagy of GCs.

Abstract

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common reproductive disease in women younger than 40 years old, and studies have demonstrated that the application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) is a promising therapy strategy for POF. Given the previously established therapeutic advantages of 3D MSC spheroids, and to evaluate their effectiveness, both 3D hUC-MSC spheroids and monolayer-cultured hUC-MSCs were employed to treat a cyclophosphamide-induced POF rat model through orthotopic transplantation. The effects of these two forms on POF were subsequently assessed by examining apoptosis, autophagy, and oxidative damage in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). The results indicated that hUC-MSC spheroids exhibited superior treatment effects on resisting autophagy, apoptosis, and oxidative damage in GCs compared to monolayer-cultured hUC-MSCs. To further elucidate the impact of hUC-MSC spheroids in vitro, a H2O2-induced KGN cells model was established and co-cultured with both forms of hUC-MSCs. As expected, the hUC-MSC spheroids also exhibited superior effects in resisting apoptosis and autophagy caused by oxidative damage. Therefore, this study demonstrates that 3D hUC-MSC spheroids have potential advantages in POF therapy; however, the detailed mechanisms need to be further investigated. Furthermore, this study will provide a reference for the clinical treatment strategy of POF.

Gut microbiota modulation: a narrative review on a novel strategy for prevention and alleviation of ovarian aging

The global rise in life expectancy corresponds with a delay in childbearing age among women. Ovaries, seen as the chronometers of female physiological aging, demonstrate features of sped up aging, evidenced by the steady decline in both the quality and quantity of ovarian follicles from birth. The multifaceted pathogenesis of ovarian aging has kindled intensive research interest from the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors. Novel studies underscore the integral roles of gut microbiota in follicular development, lipid metabolism, and hormonal regulation, forging a nexus with ovarian aging. In this review, we outline the role of gut microbiota in ovarian function (follicular development, oocyte maturation, and ovulation), compile and present gut microbiota alterations associated with age-related ovarian aging. We also discuss potential strategies for alleviating ovarian aging from the perspective of gut microbiota, such as fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotics.

Importance of Antioxidant Supplementation during In Vitro Maturation of Mammalian Oocytes

The in vitro embryo production (IVEP) technique is widely used in the field of reproductive biology. In vitro maturation (IVM) is the first and most critical step of IVEP, during which, the oocyte is matured in an artificial maturation medium under strict laboratory conditions. Despite all of the progress in the field of IVEP, the quality of in vitro matured oocytes remains inferior to that of those matured in vivo. The accumulation of substantial amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within oocytes during IVM has been regarded as one of the main factors altering oocyte quality. One of the most promising approaches to overcome ROS accumulation within oocytes is the supplementation of oocyte IVM medium with antioxidants. In this article, we discuss recent advancements depicting the adverse effects of ROS on mammalian oocytes. We also discuss the potential use of antioxidants and their effect on both oocyte quality and IVM rate.