The Effects of Endometrial Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the in Vitro Maturation of GV Oocyte in Hanging Drop and Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Co-culture System

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 P.O. Box: 14115-111, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

10.22074/ijfs.2023.2006017.1487

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the co-culturing effects of human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EnMSCs) with the mouse oocyte to enhance their maturation and development using hanging drop and sodium alginate hydrogel methods.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study after preparation of the human EnMSCs (2.5×105 cells/mL) and the mouse partially denuded oocytes were co-cultured in hanging drop (n=120) and sodium alginate hydrogel (n=120). As their controls, the oocyte was cultured in both systems (in total n=230) in the absence of human EnMSCs for 18 hours. The oocytes survival and maturation rates were analyzed morphologically. After insemination with capacitated sperm, the fertilization and development of the embryos up to the blastocyst stage were assessed and compared statistically in all groups of study. Statistical analysis involved using one-way ANOVA and t-tests.

Results: The survival rate of the oocytes that were cultured in the hanging drop method was significantly higher than in its control group (92.60 ± 4.36 % vs 84.20 ± 3.12 %; P=0.018). There were no significant differences between the two experimental groups in this regard. The mean percent of oocytes that reached the MII stage was 64.35 ± 3.19% and fertilized was 62.25 ± 4.43 in the hanging drop method and these rates were 63.43 ± 1.92% and 58.14 ± 4.14 in sodium alginate hydrogel method, respectively. These rates were higher than their controls (P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences between the two experimental groups (P>0.05). Among the studied groups the highest blastocyst rate (32.55 ± 2.18 %) was significantly observed in the experimental group in the hanging drop method (P= 0.0017).

Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that the human EnMSCs improve the survival, maturation, and development rates of oocytes and they could have clinical applications in the future.

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International Journal of Fertility and Sterility

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 November 2023

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