PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

Successful 3D culture and transplantation of mouse isolated preantral follicles in hydrogel of bioengineered Wharton's jelly.

  • Elnaz Zand,
  • Elias Rajablou,
  • Seyedeh Fatemeh Siadat,
  • Bahare Beiki,
  • Vahid Akbarinejad,
  • Christiani Andrade Amorim,
  • Mojtaba Rezazadeh Valojerdi,
  • Leila Alsadat Tahaei,
  • Rouhollah Fathi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290095
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 9
p. e0290095

Abstract

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Main objectiveDue to Human Wharton's Jelly (HWJ) could be applied in tissue engineering as a bio scaffold, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of HWJ hydrogel on in vitro culture and auto-transplantation of mouse ovarian follicles.Materials and methodsHWJ was isolated from umbilical cord and decellularized with SDS/Tris/EDTA. DNA, Collagen and Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were measured. Decellularized Wharton's Jelly (DWJ) was dissolved to make Wharton's Jelly Hydrogel (WJH), and composited with Alginate (ALG) (1.5%) in equal ratio (WJH+ALG). Then, mouse preantral follicles were isolated and encapsulated in 10μL droplets of WJH and randomly considered for both 14 days culture and auto-transplantation.ResultsCollagen, GAGs and DNA evaluations showed majority of WJ cells have been removed and MTT approved no toxicity. Degradation rate and rheological analysis represented optimal hydrogel compatibility. The data from in vitro culture revealed significant antral formation in WJH+ALG (P≤0.05). In transplantation, follicles failed to survive in ALG; however, survived in WJH+ALG to antral stage (PConclusionWharton's jelly hydrogel and Alginate compound is interesting composite for successful development of mouse preantral follicles in both 3D in vitro culture and transplantation.