Objective To investigate the effects of ovarian tissue cryopreservation by needle immersed vitrification (NIV) method and subsequently orthotopic transplantation on ovarian function reconstruction in chemotherapy-induced ovary damage rat model. Methods A total of 52 matured virginal female Wistar rats at age of 8-9 weeks housed in specific-pathogen-free facilities, weighing 250-300 g. Vaginal smears were obtained daily, 50 rats having at least 2 consecutive normal estrous cycles were included in the experiment. Ten rats were selected as donors randomly, and NIV method was used for cryopreserving ovarian tissues. The remaining 40 rats were divided into 3 groups according to different treatments: cyclophosphamide group (C group, n=14), cyclophosphamide/transplantation group (C/T group, n=12), and control group (NS group, n=14). In C group and C/T group, the rats received peritoneal injection of cyclophosphamide every day for 21 days to establish the chemotherapy-induced ovary damage models; and then the frozen-thawed ovarian tissues orthotopically transplanted into the left ovarian bursae in C/ T group. The rats received peritoneal injections of 0.9% saline solution every day for 21 days in NS group. Estrous cycle recovery time, ovary weight, morphology change of ovarian tissues, and follicle count were compared among 3 groups. Results One rat died at 2 days after transplantation in C/T group; the other rats survived to the completion of the experiment. At 4 weeks after the end of injection, no significant difference in body weight was found among 3 groups (P gt; 0.05). The rats of NS group had regular estrous cycle, but cyclic changes in vaginal smears were observed in C group and C/T group during cyclophosphamide treatment. The median estrous cycle recovery was 9 days (95%CI: 7.9-10.1 days) in C group, and was 6 days (95%CI: 4.9-7.1 days) in C/ T group, showing significant difference (χ2=6.571, P=0.010). The ovarian weight showed an obvious downtrend in C group at 4 weeks after cyclophosphamide treatment, and an upward trend was observed in C/T group. The ovarian grafts survived and grew well in C/T group. Primordium follicles and primary follicles in C/T group and NS group were significantly more than those in C group (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between NS group and C/T group (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in secondary follicles and antral follicles among the 3 groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The method of ovarian tissue cryopreservation by NIV and subsequently orthotopic transplantation can significantly shorten the estrous cycle recovery time in chemotherapy-induced ovary damage rat model. Ovarian grafts grow well, follicle count is similar to normal level. So it has the potential ability of ovarian endocrine and fertility reconstruction after chemotherapy.
Objective To study the immunological rejection occurred in different period after the in vivo implantation of vitreous-cryopreservation tissue engineered tendons for the repair of tendon defect and investigate its influences on the hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular function of rats. Methods Tenocytes obtained from tail tendon of one-weekold SD rats were cultured in vitro. The tenocytes at passage 2-4 (5 × 106 cells/mL) were co-cultured with 1.5 cm bio-derived tendon material to reconstruct tissue engineered tendon. The 21% DMSO was used as cryopreservation protection solution andthe Eurocoll ins solution served as basic solution for pre-frozen solution (4 ) and eluent. The cell-scaffold composites were vitreous-cryopreserved by self-designed method. Seventy-two healthy SD rats (male and/or female) weighing 210-230 g were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n=32), group B (n=32), and group C (n=8). The 0.5 cm tendon defect model was establ ished in the middle part of Achilles tendon in groups A and B. The defect in group A and B was repaired by the transplantation of tissue engineered tendon with and without vitreous-cryopreservation, respectively. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after transplantation, the general observation and the detection of hepatic function, renal function, and cardiovascular function were conducted. At 2, 4, and 6 weeks after transplantation, serum immunology test was conducted. Results There were no tissue necrosis, hydrops, and suppurative infection in groups A and B. The adhesion was evident in groups A and B 2 weeks after transplantation, improved gradually during 4-6 weeks, and disappeared at 8 weeks. The neonatal tissue had full integration and continuity, and the bridging region of the tendon healed and was similar to the normal tendon. For serum IgG and IgM content, there was no significant difference when group A or B was compared with group C, and between group A and group B 2, 4, and 6 weeks after transplantation (P gt; 0.05). Hepatic function: aspartate aminotransferase (AST) content of group A was less than that of group C 4 weeks after transplantation (P lt; 0.05); AST content of group B was less than that of group C 4 and 6 weeks after transplantation (P lt; 0.05); but there was no significant difference when group A or B was compared with group C in terms of other indexes 8 weeks after transplantation (P gt; 0.05). Renal function: serum albumin and creatinine in groups A and B were decreased obviously, and significant difference was evident when compared with group C (P lt; 0.05). Cardiovascular function: there was no significant difference between group A and group C in terms of blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol (P gt; 0.05);there was a significant difference between group B and group C in terms of triglyceride 8 weeks after transplantation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Repairing tendon defect with the implantation of vitreous-cryopreservation tissue engineered tendons results in no obvious immunological rejection and exerts no obvious influences on hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular function.
Microfluidics technology may be an effective method to solve some problems in cryopreservation. This review presents the research progress of microfluidics technology in the field of cell membrane transport properties, cryoprotectant addition and washout and the vitrification for cryopreservation of biological materials. Existing problems of microfluidics technology in the application of cryopreservation are summarized and future research directions are indicated as well.
ObjectiveFertility preservation (FP) technology has gradually been concerned by scholars all over the world due to the increasing survival rate of cancer patients. To review the recent progress of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in female FP. MethodsThe recent original literature about MSCs in female FP was extensively reviewed. ResultsMSCs have the advantages of rich source, easy isolation and amplification, and capacities for multipotential differentiation and migration so that they can be used to avoid the ethical and legal controversy which have great potential of FP for the damage of ovarian tissue and reproductive endocrine disorders. In addition, MSCs can be induced to differentiate into a specific condition, which is expected to be the resource in oocyte-like cells that can be used as a steady cell source for the future experiments and clinical application. ConclusionMSCs have great potential to provide new research ideas for future FP technology.
Ultra-rapid cooling and rewarming rate is a critical technical approach to achieve ice-free cells during the freezing and melting process. A set of ultra-rapid solid surface freeze-thaw visualization system was developed based on a sapphire flim, and experiments on droplet freeze-thaw were carried out under different cryoprotectant components, volumes and laser energies. The results showed that the cooling rate of 1 μL mixed cryoprotectant [1.5 mol/L propylene glycol (PG) + 1.5 mol/L ethylene glycol (EG) + 0.5 mol/L trehalose (TRE)] could be 9.2×103 °C/min. The volume range of 1–8 μL droplets could be vitrified. After comparing the proportions of multiple cryoprotectants, the combination of equal proportion mixed permeability protectant and trehalose had the best vitrification freezing effect and more uniform crystallization characteristics. During the rewarming operation, the heating curve of glassy droplets containing gold nanoparticles was measured for the first time under the action of 400–1 200 W laser power, and the rewarming rate was up to the order of 106 °C/min. According to the droplet images of different power rewarming processes, the laser power range for ice-free rewarming with micron-level resolution was clarified to be 1 400–1 600 W. The work of this paper simultaneously realizes the ultra-high-speed temperature ramp-up, transient visual observation and temperature measurement of droplets, providing technical means for judging the ice free droplets during the freeze-thaw process. It is conducive to promoting the development of ultra-rapid freeze-thaw technology for biological cells and tissues.