Research Areas:
Background: Despite the increased survival of young women after cancer treatment, a chemotherapy-induced-side effect is oocyte and fertility loss. Despite livebirths from transplanted-frozen/thawed ovarian tissue in women, developing methods to increase post-implantation graft vascularization is essential. Maturing oocytes in vitro would eliminate disease retransmission-risk. Methods to protect the ovary from chemotherapy are needed.
Working hypothesises:
- Neuronal growth factors+bio-engineered matrices can increase human in-vitro folliculogenesis.
- Various compounds and matrices can improve neovascularization after grafting.
- Nonylphenol-ethoxylate 10 (NP10) exposure will decrease the ovarian reserve.
Methods: Cryopreservation/thawing of human ovarian tissue, ovarian culture and transplantation, follicular counts and classification, immunocytochemistry, hormonal assays.
Expected results: Neuronal growth factors+bio-engineered matrices will stimulate human follicular development in culture. Various compounds will increase neovascularization after grafting. NP10 will reduce ovarian reserve.
Preliminary results:
- Three neuronal growth factors+polyethylene-glycol (PEG)-fibrinogen promoted folliculogenesis.
- Immunodeficient mice (host) treatment with melatonin and human ovarian tissue pre-grafting incubation with hyaluronan+vitamin E+vascular endothelial growth factor A; human recombinant virgin collagen implanted with human ovarian tissue; human ovarian tissue implanted within fibrin clots+host treatment with simvastatin promoted the best results.
- Protection of follicle reserve and response to gonadotropins increased with NP10, but NP-10+cyclophosphamide was unable to protect the ovary.