• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2024

Background: Although an understanding of the proliferation and differentiation of fish female germline stem cells (GSCs) is very important, an appropriate threedimensional (3D) research model to study them is not well established. As a part of the development of stable 3D culture system for fish female GSCs, we conducted this study to establish a 3D aggregate culture system of ovarian cells in marine medaka, Oryzias dancena. Methods: Ovarian cells were separated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation and two different cell populations were cultured in suspension to form ovarian cell aggregates to find suitable cell populations for its formation. Ovarian cell aggregates formed from different cell populations were evaluated by histology and gene expression analyses. To evaluate the media supplements, ovarian cell aggregate culture was performed under different media conditions, and the morphology, viability, size, gene expression, histology, and E2 secretion of ovarian cell aggregates were analyzed. Results: Ovarian cell aggregates were able to be formed well under specific culture conditions that used ultra-low attachment 96 well plate, complete mESM2, and the cell populations from top to 50% layers after separation of ovarian cells. Moreover, they were able to maintain minimal ovarian function such as germ cell maintenance and E2 synthesis for a short period. Conclusions: We established basic conditions for the culture of O. dancena ovarian cell aggregates. Additional efforts will be required to further optimize the culture conditions so that the ovarian cell aggregates can retain the improved ovarian functions for a longer period of time.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2020

Fish ovarian germline stem cells (OGSCs) that have the abilities to self-renew and differentiate into functional gametes can be used in various researches and applications. A main issue to be solved for effective utilization of fish OGSCs is the development of their stable in vitro culture condition, but only few researches about fish OGSC culture have been reported so far. In this study, in order to find the clues to develop the culture condition for OGSCs from Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), we tried to establish somatic cell lines as a candidate for the feeder cells and evaluated its supporting effects on the culture of ovarian cell populations from O. latipes. As the results, the somatic cell lines could be established only from the embryonic tissues among three tissues derived from embryos, fins and ovaries. Three embryonic cell lines were tested as a feeder cell for the culture of ovarian cell population and all three cell lines induced cell aggregation formation of the cultured ovarian cells whereas the feeder-free condition did not. Furthermore, a significant cellular proliferation was observed in the ovarian cells cultured on two of three cell lines. As a trial to increase the capacity of the cell lines as a feeder cell that supports the proliferation of the cultured ovarian cells, we subsequently established a stable line that expresses the foreign O. latipes fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) from an embryonic cell line and evaluated its effectiveness as a feeder cell. The ovarian cells cultured on FGF2 expressing feeder cells still formed cell aggregates but did not show a significant increase in cellular proliferation compared to those cultured on non-transformed feeder cells. The results from this study will provide the fundamental information for in vitro culture of medaka OGSCs.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.9.1-9.7
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to identify the general conditions for the isolation and in vitro culture of ovary-derived cells in rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). The effects of three different enzymes on cell retrieval from ovarian tissues were evaluated first, and then the ovary-dissociated cells were cultured under various culture conditions, with varying basal media and culture temperatures, addition of growth factors, and/or culture types. We found that collagenase type I treatment was effective for cell isolation from ovarian tissues. From a total of 42 trials to evaluate the effects of basal media and culture temperatures on cell culture of ovary-dissociated cells, we observed that Leibovitz's L15 medium was more supportive than Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium for culture, and the cells could grow at all three temperatures tested, 15, 20, and $25^{\circ}C$, at least up to passage 2. However, growth factor addition did not improve cell growth. Introduction of suspension culture after monolayer culture expanded the culture period significantly more than did monolayer culture alone. Our results may provide a basis for developing an in vitro system for S. schlegeli germline cell culture, which will ultimately lead to improvement of the species.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.111-123
• /
• 2021

Objective: Using domestic cats as a biomedical research model for fertility preservation, the present study aimed to characterize the influences of ovarian tissue encapsulation in biodegradable hydrogel matrix (fibrinogen/thrombin) on resilience to cryopreservation, and static versus non-static culture systems following ovarian tissue encapsulation and cryopreservation on follicle quality. Methods: In experiment I, ovarian tissues (n=21 animals; 567 ovarian fragments) were assigned to controls or hydrogel encapsulation with 5 or 10 mg/mL fibrinogen (5 or 10 FG). Following cryopreservation (slow freezing or vitrification), follicle viability, morphology, density, and key protein phosphorylation were assessed. In experiment II (based on the findings from experiment I), ovarian tissues (n=10 animals; 270 ovarian fragments) were encapsulated with 10 FG, cryopreserved, and in vitro cultured under static or non-static systems for 7 days followed by similar follicle quality assessments. Results: In experiment I, the combination of 10 FG encapsulation/slow freezing led to greater post-thawed follicle quality than in the control group, as shown by follicle viability (66.9%±2.2% vs. 61.5%±3.1%), normal follicle morphology (62.2% ±2.1% vs. 55.2%±3.5%), and the relative band intensity of vascular endothelial growth factor protein phosphorylation (0.58±0.06 vs. 0.42±0.09). Experiment II demonstrated that hydrogel encapsulation promoted follicle survival and maintenance of follicle development regardless of the culture system when compared to fresh controls. Conclusion: These results provide a better understanding of the role of hydrogel encapsulation and culture systems in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and follicle quality outcomes using an animal model, paving the way for optimized approaches to human fertility preservation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.95-106
• /
• 2012

It has been revealed that multiple cohorts of tertiary follicles develop during some animal estrous cycle and the human menstrual cycle. To reach developmental competence, oocytes need the support of somatic cells. During embryogenesis, the primordial germ cells appear, travel to the gonadal rudiments, and form follicles. The female germ cells develop within the somatic cells of the ovary, granulosa cells, and theca cells. How the oocyte and follicle cells support each other has been seriously studied. The latest technologies in genes and proteins and genetic engineering have allowed us to collect a great deal of information about folliculogenesis. For example, a few web pages (http://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov; http://mrg.genetics.washington.edu) provide access to databases of genomes, sequences of transcriptomes, and various tools for analyzing and discovering genes important in ovarian development. Formation of the antrum (tertiary follicle) is the final phase of folliculogenesis and the transition from intraovarian to extraovian regulation. This final step coordinates with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. On the other hand, currently, follicle physiology is under intense investigation, as little is known about how to overcome women's ovarian problems or how to develop competent oocytes from in vitro follicle culture or transplantation. In this review, some of the known roles of hormones and some of the genes involved in tertiary follicle growth and the general characteristics of tertiary follicles are summarized. In addition, in vitro culture of tertiary follicles is also discussed as a study model and an assisted reproductive technology model.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.191-200
• /
• 1994

The influence of hypoxanthine and ovarian steroids on the meiotic maturation process of mouse oocytes was investigated for the qualified application of culture medium in in vitro fertilization(IVF). Mouse oocytes were cultured in hypoxanthine and various ovarian steroids(progesterone, estradiol-17${\beta}$ and testosterone) and their effects on the oocyte maturation had been observed. When mouse oocytes were cultured in the various concentration(1-4mM) of hypoxanthine, meiotic maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes was inhibited by presence itself, which was a dose-dependent effect in meiotic arrest of mouse oocytes. The presence of progesterone, estradiol-17${\beta}$ and testosterone have made the mouse oocyte mature properly. Meanwhile maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocyte was severely inhibited by 3 hoursculture in the media of progesterone supplemented with hypoxanthine. However the continuous presence lasting 24 hours of progesterone even supplemented with hypoxanthine had got rid of the inhibition of oocytes maturation. Not only estradiol-17${\beta}$ supplemented with hypoxanthine but also testosterone supplemented with hypoxanthine exert the severe inhibition of the maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes for 3-hours culture. However the continuous presence lasting 24 hours of estradiol-17${\beta}$ and testosterone even supplemented with· hypoxanthine had relieved the inhibition of oocytes maturation. These results make us suggest that hypoxanthine inhibits the mouse oocyte maturation, particularly markedly in conjunction with ovarian steroids for short period, which indicated some sort of the synergistic inhibitory retationship between the ovarian steroids and hypoxanthine.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2014

IVM refers to the maturation of immature oocytes in culture after their recovery from small antral follicles at the stage prior to selection and dominance. IVM requires little or no FSH in vivo and has been proposed as an alternative to conventional IVF, since it reduces the primary adverse effects caused by controlled ovarian stimulation, including the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Moreover, IVM is a promising option for cases for which no standard protocol is suitable, such as FSH resistance, contraindications for ovarian stimulatory drugs, and the need for urgent fertility preservation. Recently, IVM has been used in women with regular cycles and normal ovaries. However, the pregnancy rate following IVM is suboptimal compared with that of conventional IVF, indicating that further studies to optimize the protocol and the culture conditions are warranted.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2007

Recently, we have shown that some endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, organotins and azoles suppressed steroidogenic enzymes such as P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) and aromatase in bullfrog ovarian follicles. In the present study, by using an amphibian ovarian follicle culture system, we examined the effects of these endocrine disruptors on maturation and ovulation of oocytes from Rana dybowskii in vitro. Ovarian fragments or isolated follicles were cultured for 24 h in a medium containing frog pituitary homogenate (FPH) or progesterone ($P_{4}$) with or without endocrine disruptors, and oocyte maturation (germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) and ovulation were examined. Among the organotins, tributyltin (TBT) strongly inhibited both FPH-and $P_{4}-induced$ oocyte maturation ($ED_{50}$:0.6 and 0.7 ${\mu}M$, respectively); however, tetrabutyltin (TTBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) showed only partial suppression, while monobutyltin (MBT) showed no inhibitory effect. All of the organotins suppressed $P_{4}-induced$ oocyte ovulation very effectively at a low concentration, and TBT and DBT exerted an inhibitory effect on FPH-induced ovulation. Among the heavy metals, mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co) were very effective in inhibiting FPH-induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, while lead (Pb), arsenite (As) and zinc (Zn) were less effective. However, all of the heavy metals suppressed FPH-induced oocyte ovulation at a high dose ($100{\mu}M$). Among the azoles, itraconazole (ICZ), ketoconazole (KCZ) and clotrimazole (CTZ) effectively inhibited FPH-induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, while econazole (ECZ), miconazole (MCZ) and fluconazole (FCZ) were considerably less effective. These results demonstrated that the abovementioned endocrine disruptors exhibited differential effects on oocyte maturation and ovulation in amphibian follicles and that the frog ovarian culture system could be used as an effective experimental tool to screen and evaluate the toxicity of various endocrine disruptors in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.353-357
• /
• 2008

A series of studies has been conducted to establish a base infrastructure for an ovarian follicle culture system in the porcine and this study was designed to develop an effective retrieval protocol of preantral follicles. Five different methods using collagenase type I (A) or IV (B, C1, C2 and C3), which employed different treatment durations and/or conditions, were employed and sliced ovarian tissue of prepubertal gilts was provided for the retrieval. A significant increase in total number of follicles retrieved was detected when collagenase IV (methods B or C) was used. In total, more ovarian follicles were retrieved by method B undertaking agitation and method C2 without the agitation than method C1 and C3, while the number of preantral follicles collected was the largest in method B. Neither incubation in 5% $CO_2$ in air atmosphere instead of the agitation nor increased duration of enzymatic treatment up to 120 minutes improved the efficiency of follicle retrieval. There were no differences in the number of follicles retrieved from intact ovaries and from used ovaries for oocyte collection. These results demonstrate the collagenase IV treatment with agitation is effective for retrieving porcine preantral follicles from the ovaries.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.193-198
• /
• 2012

This study was to examine expression of the recombinant full-length adiponectin (recombinant adiponectin) in insect ovarian cell culture system and to characterize structural properties of the recombinant adiponectin secreted in medium. Gene construct encoding the recombinant adiponectin contained N-terminal collagen-like domain (110 Amino Acids, AAs), C-terminal globular domain (137 AAs) and C-terminal peptides for detection with V5 antibody (26 AAs included adaptor peptide) and purification using the 6xHis tag (6 AAs). The approximate molecular weight of the product (monomer) was 35 kDa. Molecular mass species of the expressed recombinant adiponectin were monomer (~35 kDa), dimer (~70 kDa), trimer (~105 kDa) and hexamer (~210 kDa). The major secreted species were the LMW forms, such as monomer, dimer, and trimer. There was MMW of hexamer as minor form. HMW multimers (~300 kDa) were shown as a tracer or not detected on the SDS-PAGE in several experiments (data not shown). The multimer forms in this study were not compatible to those in animal or human serum and adipose tissue by other researcher's study in which the major multimer forms were HMW. By protein denaturing experiments with reducing reagent (${\beta}$-MeOH), anionic detergent (SDS) and heat ($95^{\circ}C$) on the SDS-PAGE, not all adiponectin multimers seemed to have disulfide bond linked structure to form multimers. The recombinant adiponectin which expressed in insect ovarian cell culture system seemed to have the limitation as full physiological regulator for the application to animal and human study.