Restoration of ovarian tissue function and estrous cycle in rat after autotransplantation using hyaluronic acid hydrogel scaffold containing VEGF and bFGF

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) containing VEGF and bFGF on restoration of ovarian function after ovarian autotransplantation. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups for ovarian autotransplantation: group A (ovaries without HA, VEGF and bFGF), group B (ovaries encapsulated with HA) and group C (ovaries encapsulated with HA containing VEGF and bFGF). The grafts were assessed using vaginal smears, histological, hormonal, and the genes expression analysis. The duration of first estrous cycle was shorter in group C than in group A (p < 0.01). The mean number of primordial follicles was protected in group C. The level of estradiol was higher in group A than in group C (p < 0.01). The expression level of Cellular-Myelocytomatosis (C-Myc) in group C was lower than in group B (p < 0.05). HA containing VEGF and bFGF can ensure follicular survival, decrease apoptosis and recover ovarian function after auto-transplantation.

• Ovarian transplantation
• hyaluronic acid hydrogel
• VEGF
• bFGF
• rat

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Rouhollah Fathi and Dr. Gopal Lakshmi for their comments and editing the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.