Scaffold-based delivery of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in rat frozen-thawed ovarian autografts: preliminary studies in a rat model.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

This study aimed to evaluate whether a gelatin-based Gelfoam sponge is feasible as a scaffold for adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ASC) therapy in rat frozen-thawed ovarian autografts. Two sets of studies were performed. The in vitro set evaluated ASCs' viability in the Gelfoam scaffold at different times of co-culturing (after 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h). The in vivo set used 20 12-week-old adult female Wistar rats. Frozen-thawed ovarian grafts were treated with ASCs delivered in Gelfoam scaffolds immediately after an autologous retroperitoneal transplant (ASCs-GS, n = 10). The controls received Gelfoam with a culture medium (GS, n = 10). Assessment of graft quality was conducted by vaginal smears (until euthanasia on the 30th postoperative day), histological analyses, follicular density, and viability and fibrosis. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-A expression, vascular network (vWF), apoptosis (caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)), cell proliferation (Ki-67), and hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone) were performed. The cells remained viable in Gelfoam for up to 120 h of co-culturing. The graft morphology was similar among the groups. ASC therapy promoted the earlier resumption of the estrous phase (GS 16.6 ± 3 vs. ASCs-GS 12.8 ± 1.3 days) and enhanced estrogen receptors compared with the controls (p < 0.05

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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