ABSTRACT
Background: Many autocrine and paracrine elements that are produced within follicular niche have been the focus of much in vitro maturation [IVM] research. The present study was carried out to compare retinoic acid [RA] and basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] efficacy on IVM of mouse oocytes, and their further dual consumption to reach an optimal protocol
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, germinal vesicle [GV] oocytes obtained from two-months-old NMRI mice were randomly divided into control, sham and three experimental groups. The basic culture medium was alpha-MEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum [FBS], 50 mg/l streptomycin, 60 mg/l penicillin and 10 ng/ ml epidermal growth factors. Each of the experimental groups received one of the following treatments: RA [2 microM], bFGF [20 ng/ml] or combination of RA and bFGF with the indicated concentrations. After 24 hours, capacitated spermatozoa were added to in vitro matured oocytes. Five hours later, the oocytes were cultured in fresh droplets of M2 medium for 24 hours and assessed for cleavage to the two-cells stage
Results: As compared with the control group, the rate of maturation was significantly increased in the RA [P<0.001] and bFGF+RA [P<0.02] groups with 58 +/- 10 and 57 +/- 3.46, respectively. The rate of maturation was significant in the RA [P<0.02] and bFGF+RA [P<0.03] groups, in comparison with the bFGF group. The bFGF+RA group had higher rate [83 +/- 1.52] of two-cells development, than control [33 +/- 1, P<0.001]
Conclusion: Our findings showed beneficial effects of 2 micro M RA and 20 ng/ml bFGF combination on mouse oocyte IVM
ABSTRACT
Background: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells [BMMSCs] transplantation has been considered as a promising milestone in liver fibrosis treatment. However, low amounts of homing are a major obstacle. We aimed to investigate the role of melatonin pretreatment in BMMSC homing into experimental liver fibrosis
Methods: BMMSCs were obtained, grown, propagated and preconditioned with 5 µM melatonin and analyzed for multipotency and immunophenotypic features at passage three. The cells were labelled with CM-Dil and infused into the rats received the i.p. injection of carbon tetrachloride [CCl4] for five weeks to induce liver fibrosis. Animals were divided into two groups: One group received BMMSCs, whereas the other group received melatonin-pretreated BMMSCs [MT-BMMSCs]. After cell injection at 72 h, animals were sacrificed, and the liver tissues were assessed for further evaluations: fibrosis using Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin staining and homing using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry
Results: BMMSCs and MT-BMMSCs expressed a high level of CD44 but low levels of CD11b, CD45 and CD34 [for all P
Conclusion: This study indicates the improved homing potential of BMMSCs in pretreatment with melatonin. Therefore, this strategy may represent an applied approach for improving the stem cell therapy of liver fibrosis
ABSTRACT
Wharton's Jelly-Mesenchymal Stem Cells [WJ-MSCs] are pluripotent cells with differentiation capability into most cell lineages. The aim of the current work was to examine the role of Retinoic Acid [RA] in differentiation process of these cells into hepatocyte-like cells and determine the morphological and functional patterns. Human WJ-MSCs were extracted, cultured and expanded; after approximately 95% of confluence, the cells were treated with hepatogenic media containing RA. The cells were subsequently analyzed for morphological changes, glycogen storage, albumin production, and specific gene expression. WJ-MSCs expressed high levels of CD90 [93.6%] and CD105 [90.7%], but low levels of CD34 [0.3%] and CD45 [0.8%]. Albumin production had significant difference in the two groups [p