Creating an Artificial 3-Dimensional Ovarian Follicle Culture System Using a Microfluidic System
Mae W. Healy,
Shelley N. Dolitsky,
Maria Villancio-Wolter,
Meera Raghavan,
Alexandra R. Tillman,
Nicole Y. Morgan,
Alan H. DeCherney,
Solji Park,
Erin F. Wolff
Affiliations
Mae W. Healy
Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Shelley N. Dolitsky
Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Maria Villancio-Wolter
Trans-NIH Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Meera Raghavan
Trans-NIH Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Alexandra R. Tillman
Trans-NIH Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Nicole Y. Morgan
Trans-NIH Shared Resource on Biomedical Engineering and Physical Science, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Alan H. DeCherney
Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Solji Park
Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Erin F. Wolff
Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
We hypothesized that the creation of a 3-dimensional ovarian follicle, with embedded granulosa and theca cells, would better mimic the environment necessary to support early oocytes, both structurally and hormonally. Using a microfluidic system with controlled flow rates, 3-dimensional two-layer (core and shell) capsules were created. The core consists of murine granulosa cells in 0.8 mg/mL collagen + 0.05% alginate, while the shell is composed of murine theca cells suspended in 2% alginate. Somatic cell viability tests and hormonal assessments (estradiol, progesterone, and androstenedione) were performed on days 1, 6, 13, 20, and 27. Confocal microscopy confirmed appropriate compartmentalization of fluorescently-labeled murine granulosa cells to the inner capsule and theca cells to the outer shell. Greater than 78% of cells present in capsules were alive up to 27 days after collection. Artificially constructed ovarian follicles exhibited intact endocrine function as evidenced by the production of estradiol, progesterone, and androstenedione. Oocytes from primary and early secondary follicles were successfully encapsulated, which maintained size and cellular compartmentalization. This novel microfluidic system successfully encapsulated oocytes from primary and secondary follicles, recapitulating the two-compartment system necessary for the development of the mammalian oocyte. Importantly, this microfluidic system can be easily adapted for sterile, high throughput applications.
