AUTHOR=Brunette Margaret A. , Kinnear Hadrian M. , Hashim Prianka H. , Flanagan Colleen L. , Day James R. , Cascalho Marilia , Padmanabhan Vasantha , Shikanov Ariella 

TITLE=Human Ovarian Follicles Xenografted in Immunoisolating Capsules Survive Long Term Implantation in Mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.886678

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2022.886678

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p>Female pediatric cancer survivors often develop Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) owing to gonadotoxic effects of anticancer treatments. Here we investigate the use of a cell-based therapy consisting of human ovarian cortex encapsulated in a poly-ethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogel that replicates the physiological cyclic and pulsatile hormonal patterns of healthy reproductive-aged women. Human ovarian tissue from four donors was analyzed for follicle density, with averages ranging between 360 and 4414 follicles/mm<sup>3</sup>. Follicles in the encapsulated and implanted cryopreserved human ovarian tissues survived up to three months, with average follicle densities ranging between 2 and 89 follicles/mm<sup>3</sup> at retrieval. We conclude that encapsulation of human ovarian cortex in PEG-based hydrogels did not decrease follicle survival after implantation in mice and was similar to non-encapsulated grafts. Furthermore, this approach offers the means to replace the endocrine function of the ovary tissue in patients with POI.</p>