WOMEN IN REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCE: Lessons from bioengineering the ovarian follicle: a personal perspective

Woodruff, Teresa K.

doi:10.1530/rep-19-0190

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 82 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Multi-layer secondary follicles are more likely to grow after a short adaptive phase. This reveals that the efficiency of 3D printed scaffolds also depends on the size and developmental stage of the follicles [49,50]. Furthermore, all of the follicles underwent a slight, but not statistically significant, decrease in diameter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Three-dimensional bioprinting of artificial ovaries by an extrusion-based method using gelatin-methacryloyl bioink

Gao

et al. 2021

Climacteric

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: The aim of this study was to design and fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) printed artificial ovary. Methods: We first compared the printability of gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA), alginate and GelMA-alginate bioinks, of which GelMA was selected for further investigation. The swelling properties, degradation kinetics and shape fidelity of GelMA scaffolds were characterized by equilibrium swelling/ lyophilization, collagenase processing and micro-computed tomography evaluation. Commercial ovarian tumor cell lines (COV434, KGN, ID8) and primary culture ovarian somatic cells were utilized to perform cell-laden 3D printing, and the results were evaluated by live/dead assays and TUNEL detection. Murine ovarian follicles were seeded in the ovarian scaffold and their diameters were recorded every day. Finally, in vitro maturation was performed, and the ovulated oocytes were collected and observed. Results: Our results indicated that GelMA was suitable for 3D printing fabrication. Its scaffolds performed well in terms of hygroscopicity, degradation kinetics and shape fidelity. The viability of ovarian somatic cells was lower than that of commercial cell lines, suggesting that extrusion-based 3D culture fabrication is not suitable for primary ovarian cells. Nevertheless, the GelMA-based 3D printing system provided an appropriate microenvironment for ovarian follicles, which successfully grew and ovulated in the scaffolds. Metaphase II oocytes were also observed after in vitro maturation. Conclusions: The GelMA-based 3D printing culture system is a viable alternative option for follicular growth, development and transfer. Accordingly, it shows promise for clinical application in the treatment of female endocrine and reproductive conditions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Three-dimensional bioprinting of artificial ovaries by an extrusion-based method using gelatin-methacryloyl bioink

Gao

et al. 2021

Climacteric

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Classically, scaffolds have been used as artificial ovaries for follicle maturation in vitro or implantation to reduce the risk of contamination of malignant cells and to restore fecundity in the field of oncofertility [ 56 ]. Follicles have been isolated from ovaries and sequestered in scaffolds such as fibrin, collagen, alginate, fibrin-alginate, polyethylene glycol, and porcine ovarian extracellular matrix.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in mice by scaffold-based local delivery of human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is one of the most serious side effects of chemotherapy in young cancer survivors. It may not only reduce fecundity but also affect lifelong health. There is no standard therapy for preserving ovarian health after chemotherapy. Recently, administration of embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (ESC-MPCs) has been considered a new therapeutic option for preventing POI. However, the previous method of directly injecting cells into the veins of patients exhibits low efficacy and safety. This study aimed to develop safe and effective local delivery methods for the prevention of POI using two types of bioinspired scaffolds. Methods Female mice received intraperitoneal cisplatin for 10 days. On day 11, human ESC-MPCs were delivered through systemic administration using intravenous injection or local administration using intradermal injection and intradermal transplantation with a PLGA/MH sponge or hyaluronic acid (HA) gel (GEL) type of scaffold. PBS was injected intravenously as a negative control. Ovarian function and fertility were evaluated 4 weeks after transplantation. Follicle development was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The plasma levels of sex hormones were measured using ELISA. Expression levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and ki-67 were detected using immunostaining, and the quality of oocytes and embryos was evaluated after in vitro fertilization. The estrous cycles were observed at 2 months after transplantation. Results The local administration of human ESC-MPCs using the bioinspired scaffold to the backs of mice effectively prolonged the cell survival rate in vivo. The HA GEL group exhibited the best recovered ovarian functions, including a significantly increased number of ovarian reserves, estrogen levels, and AMH levels and decreased apoptotic levels. Furthermore, the HA GEL group showed improved quality of oocytes and embryos and estrous cycle regularity. Conclusions HA GEL scaffolds can be used as new delivery platforms for ESC-MPC therapy, and this method may provide a novel option for the clinical treatment of chemotherapy-induced POI.

show abstract

“…The ovarian tissue that is recovered for cryopreservation mainly contains follicles in the early stage of development [80]. Researches on how to obtain in vitro mature oocytes from primordial follicles have been ongoing for many years but the follicle growth is a complex mechanism and the accurate knowledge of folliculogenesis is still partially obscure [81,82]. Various attempts at in vitro follicular growth have been reported in the literature but to date the results are not yet satisfactory and further studies are needed to compare the epigenetic status of oocytes recovered from follicles matured in vitro [78,83].…”

Section: Future Possibilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertility Preservation in Girls and Women: State of Art and Future Possibilities

Marin¹,

Ambrosini²,

Esposito³

et al. 2022

Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Many women worldwide are diagnosed with cancer in prepubertal, postpubertal and childbearing age. Oncological treatments can compromise future fertility through different mechanisms mainly depending on the type of treatment and the age of the patient. International societies recommend that cancer patients should receive information regarding the effects of oncological treatments on their reproductive health and cancer survivors should not be discouraged from becoming pregnant. About a quarter of these patients still do not receive an adequate counselling and young cancer survivors may face several barriers to conceiving a pregnancy due to the concerns from gynaecologists and oncologists. Methods: This review aims to investigate the infertility risk for female cancer patients who undergo oncological treatments and to provide an overview of actual and future fertility preservation possibilities for female cancer patients. Results: Different fertility preservation techniques have been developed in order to ensure the possibility for cancer survivors to complete their family planning after cancer. Oocyte/embryo freezing and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are the established choices, but the research is still going on to increase the success rate of these techniques and to develop other techniques to overcome actual limitations. Patients with a systemic oncological disease such as leukaemia could particularly benefit from the new experimental techniques which involve the creation of an artificial ovary or the in vitro growth of follicles or even the obtaining of mature oocytes from stem cells. All these techniques would allow the achievement of pregnancy without the risk of reintroducing malignant cells within autologous cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation. Regarding the concerns over pregnancy in cancer survivors, research is rapidly advancing and reassuring data are increasing. Conclusions: The rate of utilisation of gametes, embryos or ovarian tissue previously stored for fertility preservation is still low and the motivations can be various. Further data are needed in order to reassure both women and oncologists about the safety of pregnancy in cancer survivors and in order to increase the rate of women experiencing pregnancy after cancer.

show abstract

WOMEN IN REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCE: Lessons from bioengineering the ovarian follicle: a personal perspective

Cited by 13 publications

References 82 publications

Three-dimensional bioprinting of artificial ovaries by an extrusion-based method using gelatin-methacryloyl bioink

Three-dimensional bioprinting of artificial ovaries by an extrusion-based method using gelatin-methacryloyl bioink

Prevention of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in mice by scaffold-based local delivery of human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells

Fertility Preservation in Girls and Women: State of Art and Future Possibilities

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About