مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Cell-Based Therapy Using Menstrual Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Restoration of Ovarian Function in PCOS: An In Vivo Study
Cell-Based Therapy Using Menstrual Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Restoration of Ovarian Function in PCOS: An In Vivo Study
Mahna Mansoori,1,*Massood Ezzatabadipour,2Somayeh Solhjoo,3
1. Department of Medicine, Medicine School, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch, Kerman, Iran 2. Anatomical Sciences Department, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 3. Anatomical Sciences Department, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Introduction: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder characterized by ovarian dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and impaired folliculogenesis. Among emerging regenerative therapies, menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) have attracted attention due to their high proliferative capacity, ease of non-invasive collection, and potent paracrine effects.
Methods: To assess the therapeutic efficacy of MenSCs in restoring ovarian function, an in vivo study was conducted using a letrozole-induced rat model of PCOS. MenSCs were isolated from fresh menstrual blood samples via density gradient centrifugation and characterized by flow cytometry for the expression of mesenchymal surface markers CD90 and CD105.
Female Wistar rats (n = 8 per group) received daily oral gavage of letrozole (1 mg/kg/day) dissolved in 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) for 21 consecutive days to induce PCOS. After confirming successful induction, 1×10⁶ MenSCs (passages 4–6) were injected into each ovary under sterile surgical conditions and general anesthesia. The sham group received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) injections in place of MenSCs.
Functional assessments included daily vaginal smear examination for estrous cycle monitoring over two weeks post-treatment. Serum testosterone and estradiol levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ovarian tissues were harvested and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining for histological analysis of follicular morphology and follicle count.
Results: The MenSC-treated group demonstrated complete normalization of the estrous cycle compared to untreated PCOS controls (p < 0.01). A significant reduction in serum testosterone levels was observed in the treated animals (0.07 ± 0.01 ng/mL) versus the PCOS group (0.16 ± 0.06 ng/mL, p < 0.01). Estradiol levels were markedly increased in the treated group (29.1 ± 3.4 pg/mL vs. 16.2 ± 3.6 pg/mL, p < 0.05). Histological evaluation revealed a 2.5-fold increase in the number of healthy follicles (p < 0.01), indicating substantial improvement in follicular development and ovarian architecture.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that intraovarian transplantation of MenSCs effectively restores ovarian function in a letrozole-induced rat model of PCOS through normalization of endocrine parameters and enhancement of folliculogenesis. These findings provide preliminary preclinical evidence supporting MenSC-based therapy as a promising approach for the treatment of reproductive disorders such as PCOS.