Ultrastructure assessment of oocyte from mouse with polycystic ovary syndrome following cryopreservation.

Background: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a substantial obstacle to female fertility due to ovulation inhibition. Oocyte cryopreservation is crucial for preserving fertility in women with fertility-compromising disorders such as PCOS.

Objective: In this study, the ultrastructural damages of oocytes were evaluated following freezing from PCOS mouse model.

Enhancing spermatogonial stem cell differentiation: The role of alpha-ketoglutarate in in-Vitro cultures.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into mature spermatozoa. In vitro culture of SSCs, however, presents several challenges, particularly in promoting efficient differentiation. This study investigates the role of metabolic intermediates, such as alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), on the differentiation of SSCs isolated from the testes of 3-6 day-old mice.

Iron depletion with deferoxamine protects bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are multipotent cells with self-renewal properties, making them an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine. Recently, numerous studies show that about more than 99% of transplanted cells are destroyed because of the stressful microenvironment. Meanwhile, in the target organs, iron overload can produce oxidative stress introducing it as the most important stress factor.

Differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells by soft agar three-dimensional culture system.

Since proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in culture system provide successful transplantation in this study, culture of human SSCs was compared to SACS (soft agar culture system), gelatin and control groups. The cells were isolated from seminiferous tubules of non-azoospermia patients (NOA) and cultured in DMEM for 3 weeks. The presence of SSCs in culture system was confirmed by immunocytochemistry of GFR-α1 and ITGα6 antibodies.

Germ cell differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were first cultured under induction of retinoic acid (RA), Sertoli cells conditioned medium and RA + con (conditioned medium) as treatment groups. The presence of Sertoli cells was confirmed by immunocytochemistry of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in Sertoli cells and flow cytometry by anti-Gata4 antibody. Cell viability and morphology of nucleus and cytoplasm of BM-MSCs were evaluated by MTT test and DAPI staining respectively.

Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to germ-like cells under induction of Sertoli cell-conditioned medium and retinoic acid.

The aim of this research was to find a way to differentiate germ cells from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to support in vitro spermatogenesis. A small piece of Wharton's jelly was cultured in high-glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium in present of 10% foetal calf serum. After the fourth passage, the cells were isolated and cultured in Sertoli cell-conditioned medium under induction of two different doses of retinoic acid (10 , 10  m).

Morphological and ultrastructural studies of human spermatogonial stem cells from patients with maturation arrest.

Destruction of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) along the chemotherapy and radiotherapy is one of the side effects of cancer treatments that lead to infertility. In vitro propagation of hSSCs is necessary to obtain an adequate number of cells for successful transplantation. In this study, hSSCs were isolated from testis biopsies of the patients with maturation arrest and proliferated in DMEM in the presence of LIF and bFGF for 5 weeks.

Xenotransplantation assessment: morphometric study of human spermatogonial stem cells in recipient mouse testes.

The purpose of this study was (i) To establish in vitro propagation of human spermatogonial stem cells (hSSCs) from small testicular biopsies to obtain a high number of cells; (ii) to evaluate the presence of functional hSSCs in culture system by RT-PCR using DAZL, α6-Integrin, β1-Integrin genes; and (iii) to evaluate the effects of cell concentration on successful xenotransplantation of hSSCs in mice testis. Donor hSSCs were obtained from men with maturation arrest of spermatogenesis duration 1 year ago. These cells were propagated in DMEM containing 1 ng ml(-1) bFGF (basic fibroblast grow factor) and 1500 U ml LIF (leucaemia inhibitory factor) for 5 weeks.

The effects of poly L-lactic acid nanofiber scaffold on mouse spermatogonial stem cell culture.

Introduction: A 3D-nanofiber scaffold acts in a similar way to the extracellular matrix (ECM)/basement membrane that enhances the proliferation and self-renewal of stem cells. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of a poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofiber scaffold on frozen-thawed neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and testis tissues.

Methods: The isolated spermatogonial cells were divided into six culture groups: (1) fresh spermatogonial cells, (2) fresh spermatogonial cells seeded onto PLLA, (3) frozen-thawed spermatogonial cells, (4) frozen-thawed spermatogonial cells seeded onto PLLA, (5) spermatogonial cells obtained from frozen-thawed testis tissue, and (6) spermatogonial cells obtained from frozen-thawed testis tissue seeded onto PLLA.

Evaluation of the effects of cryopreservation on viability, proliferation and colony formation of human spermatogonial stem cells in vitro culture.

Proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro system is very important. It can enhance SSCs numbers for success of transplantation and treatment of infertility in cancer patients. In this study, testicular cells that obtained from azoospermia patients (n=8) by enzymatic digestion were cryopreserved at the beginning and after 2 weeks of culture.

In vitro colonization of human spermatogonia stem cells: effect of patient's clinical characteristics and testicular histologic findings.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the demographic/clinical characteristics of patients and testicular histologic findings on the in vitro colonization of human spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). In vitro isolation and proliferation of human SSCs has emerged as a suitable method for the enrichment of spermatogonia germ cells.

Methods: SSCs were isolated from the testicular biopsies of 47 infertile men with nonobstructive azoospermia and co-cultured with a Sertoli cell monolayer.

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and leukaemia inhibitory factor on proliferation and short-term culture of human spermatogonial stem cells.

In this study, isolated spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and Sertoli cells using enzymatic digestion from patients with maturation arrest of spermatogenesis were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum in three different groups: (1) SSCs cultured without Sertoli cells (2) SSCs co-cultured with Sertoli cells (as control group), (3) SSCs co-cultured with Sertoli cells and adding different concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (0.1, 1, 10 ng ml(-1)) and human leukaemia inhibitory factor (1000, 1200, 1500 unit ml(-1)) as experimental groups. The assessment of colonies every 10 days during 5-week cultures showed that in the first group, the average number and diameter of the colonies were significantly lower than in the other groups (P < 0.