Bioengineered ovary
Ovarian bioprostheses printed with a 3D printer and populated with oocytes allowed mice to conceive, carry and give birth to healthy cubs.
Researchers at Northwestern University (Northwestern University, Illinois) created ovarian prostheses using a 3D printer, which, after implantation to mice with their own ovaries previously removed, allowed the animals to give birth to live cubs. The authors hope that in the future the technology they have developed can be used to restore the ability to procreate in women.
The authors used a 3D printer to create a framework supporting hormone–producing cells and immature oocytes. This structure was made of gelatin, a biological material obtained from collagen, a protein of animal origin. Biological principles were taken into account when forming the framework. In addition to the strength needed to maintain integrity during surgical implantation, it had to provide enough space for oocyte growth, blood vessel formation, and ovulation. With the help of human cell cultures, the researchers found that the optimal structure of the frame should have crossing crossbars that allow cells to attach in several places at once.
To create bioprostheses, the scaffolds were populated with follicles – spherical structures, in the center of which is an oocyte surrounded by hormone-producing cells that support its vital activity.
To test the functionality of such prostheses, they were implanted in mice with previously removed ovaries. As a result, the animals ovulated and were able to bear, give birth and nurture healthy offspring.
Implantation of an artificial ovary successfully restored the female hormonal (estrous) cycle in animals. Researchers suggest that similar implants will help maintain normal hormonal fluctuations in women with congenital or acquired ovarian dysfunction. Such women often have a reduced synthesis of sex hormones, which can lead to disorders of puberty, as well as the development of vascular diseases later in life. One of the significant groups of patients who will be able to use this technology in the future are women who suffered oncological diseases in childhood, one of the side effects of treatment of which is a violation of reproductive function.
The results of the work were presented on April 2 at the annual congress of the Society of Endocrinologists ENDO 2016 held in Boston.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on EurekAlert!: Engineered ovary implant restores fertility in mice.
05.04.2016