Culture of preantral follicles in poly(ethylene) glycol-based, three-dimensional hydrogel: a relationship between swelling ratio and follicular developments.
J Tissue Eng Regen Med
; 9(3): 319-23, 2015 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24493269
ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to examine how the softness of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG)-based hydrogels, creating a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment, influences the in vitro growth of mouse ovarian follicles. Early secondary, preantral follicles of 2 week-old mice were cultured in a crosslinked four-arm PEG hydrogel. The hydrogel swelling ratio, which relates to softness, was modified within the range 25.7-15.5 by increasing the reactive PEG concentration in the precursor solution from 5% to 15% w/v, but it did not influence follicular growth to form the pseudoantrum (60-80%; p = 0.76). Significant (p < 0.04) model effects, however, were detected in the maturation and developmental competence of the follicle-derived oocytes. A swelling ratio of > 21.4 yielded better oocyte maturation than other levels, while the highest competence to develop pronuclear and blastocyst formation was detected at 20.6. In conclusion, gel softness, as reflected in swelling ratio, was one of the essential factors for supporting folliculogenesis in vivo within a hydrogel-based, 3D microenvironment.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Oocytes
/
Polyethylene Glycols
/
Hydrogels
/
Cellular Microenvironment
/
Ovarian Follicle
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Tissue Eng Regen Med
Journal subject:
BIOTECNOLOGIA
/
HISTOLOGIA
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article