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BACKGROUND: The necrotic skin flap represents a great challenge in plastic and reconstructive surgery. In this study, we evaluated the effect of bioscaffolds, acellular amniotic membranes (AAMs), and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on random skin flap (RSF) survival in rats by applying a cell-free extracellular matrix scaffold as a supportive component for the growth and proliferation of BM-MSCs on RSFs. AAM matrix scaffolds were created by incubating AMs in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 0.05% at 37°C, and cell scrapers were used. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of AAM as a scaffold in TE, and combined with transplanted BM-MSCs, on the survival of RSFs and on the biomechanical parameters of the incision-wound flap margins 7 days after flap elevation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BM-MSCs and AAMs were transplanted into subcutaneous tissue in the flap area. On the 7th postoperative day, the surviving flap areas were measured using digital imaging software, and the flap tissue was collected for evaluation. Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10 each: group 1 received an AAM injection; group 2 underwent BM-MSC transplantation; group 3 received both AAM injection + BM-MSC transplantation; and group 4 was the control group, receiving only saline. RESULTS: The survival area in the AAM/BM-MSC group was significantly higher than in the control group (18.49 ± 1.58 versus 7.51 ± 2.42, P < 0.05). The biomechanical assessment showed no significant differences between the experimental groups and the control group (P > 0.05), and there was no correlation with flap survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that the treatment of flaps with BM-MSC and AAM transplantations significantly promoted flap survival compared to a control group. The viability of the flap was improved by combining BM-MSCs with AAM matrix scaffolds.
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OBJECTIVES: Covering tissue defects using skin flaps is a basic surgical strategy for plastic and reconstructive surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chicken embryo extract (CEE) and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on random skin flap survival (RSF) in rats. Using chicken embryo extract can be an ideal environment for the growth and proliferation of transplanted cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty albino male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; each group consisted of 10 rats. BM-MSCs and CEE were transplanted into subcutaneous tissue in the area, where the flap would be examined. On the 7(th) postoperative day, the survival areas of the flaps were measured by using digital imaging with software assistance, and tissue was collected for evaluation. RESULTS: Survival area was 19.54±2 in the CEE group and 17.90±2 in the CEE/BM-MSC group when compared to the rates of the total skin flaps, which were significantly higher than the control group (13.47±2) (P<0.05). The biomechanical assessment showed a slight difference, although there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental groups and the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study demonstrated that in operative treatment with BM-MSCs and CEE transplantation could promote flap survival, but the biomechanical parameters were not contrasted with a saline injection.
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OBJECTIVE: Ovarian and follicle transplantation may preserve fertility in young cancer survivors. In this study, we have transplanted preantral follicles using fibrin gel as a carrier and fibrin gel supplemented with platelet lysate (PL) as a rich source of angiogenic and growth factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of fibrin gel and PL in follicle transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, ovaries were taken from 14-day- old Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice. Preantral follicles were dissected from the ovaries and encapsulated into fibrin gel supplemented with 5, 10, 15 or 20% PL, then transplanted back into the same donor mice. Fibrin gels supplemented with PL that contained preantral follicles were placed in a subcutaneous pocket in the back of the neck of the recipient, donor mouse (the same mouse that follicles were collected). After 14 days the grafts were processed and embedded in paraffin blocks, then serially sectioned for histological evaluation. We counted the follicles and classified them according to stage (preantral or antral). Data were presented as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM) and analysed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Kruskal-Wallistest. RESULTS: The mean percentage of recovered follicles encapsulated and transplanted in each group were 33.30 ± 2.47 (fibrin gel), 31.96 ± 1.90 (fibrin gel+5% PL), 34.02 ± 2.44 (fibrin gel+10% PL), 48.31 ± 2.06 (fibrin gel+15% PL) and 17.60 ± 2.79 (fibrin gel+20% PL). There was a significant increase in the recovery rate of grafted follicles with fibrin gel+15% PL (48.31%; p<0.001). The percentage of preantral follicles showed no significant difference in all groups (p<0.05). The percentage of antral follicles showed a significant decrease in follicles grafted with fibrin gel+20% PL when compared to the other groups (11.77%; p<0.005) but no significant difference was observed in the other groups. CONCLUSION: The use of PL in follicle transplantation can improve ovarian follicular survival rate.
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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro survival and developmental potential of oocytes obtained from vitrified mouse ovaries transplanted to a heterotopic site. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, two-week-old mice were unilaterally ovariectomized after anesthesia. The ovaries were vitrified by cryotop. After two weeks, the ovaries were thawed and autotransplanted to the gluteus muscle tissue. Three weeks later the mice were killed, after which we removed and dissected the transplanted and opposite right ovaries. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) and denuded oocytes were evaluated for in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro development (IVD). The control group consisted of sevenweek- old age-matched mice ovaries. RESULTS: All vitrified-transplanted (Vit-trans) ovaries contained some oocytes that survived. Following IVM, IVF and IVD, there were 41.7% out of 12 cultured zygotes that reached the 8-cell stage. CONCLUSION: Our experiment supports the progressive role of long-term graft survival after wholeovarian cryopreservation by vitrification and subsequent heterotopic transplantation. It is possible to recover viable follicles and oocytes that have the ability to develop in vitro.
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BACKGROUND: di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is widely used in the plastic industry and can induce reproductive toxicity. On the other hand, L-carnitine (LC) plays a crucial role in sperm metabolism and maturation. This study evaluates the effect of LC on body and testis weight, testis tissue, count, motility, viability, morphology, and chromatin quality of epididymal sperm, testicular spermatid number (TSN) per gram testis and daily sperm production (DSP) in LC-treated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IN THIS EXPERIMENTAL STUDY, ADULT MALE NMRI MICE (MEAN AGE: 4 weeks) were given doses of DEHP and LC by gavaging for 2 weeks. All samples were assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Sperm morphology was assessed using Papanicolaou staining and sperm chromatin quality by aniline-blue staining. The left testes were fixed in Bouins solution for histological examination and the end slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The right testes were homogenized, and then TSN and DSP were calculated with an improved Neubauer haemocytometer and respective frames. Paired t-test, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were utilized for data analysis. RESULTS: Co-administration of DEHP and LC not only prevented significant gains in testicular weight, but also maintained the sperm's normal morphology and chromatin quality (p<0.05). In addition, LC recovered histological changes, TSN, DSP, and sperm count. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that oral administration of LC partially or generally protects spermatogenesis from DEHP-toxicity in mice.