The effect of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in the presence and absence of monolayer mesenchymal stem cell on the development of ovarian follicles in mice

In this experimental study, ovarian follicle development was studied using insulin-like growth factor and mesenchymal stem cells.

In this study, mesenchymal stem cells were extracted from the femur bone marrow of 20 mice and 100 pairs of ovaries of mice were co-cultured with insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) at different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10µg) for seven days. Then ovarian follicles were examined and counted by Hematoxylin-eosin, Mason trichrome and PAS staining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and paired t-test with P<0.05.

Comparison of ovarian follicles in the control group and the experimental groups in most groups showed a significant difference between the follicles (P<0.05). This difference was more evident in the number of preantral follicles in the experimental groups of 5 and 10 μg / ml IGF-1 in the presence and absence of mesenchymal stem cells than in the control group. The number of follicles in the control group was 1.25±1.03 and 13.75±2.71; 10.75±1.28 at concentrations of 5 and 10 μg, respectively. Theca and granulosa layers did not show a significant difference in the control and treated groups.

This method is effective in the growth and development of adult follicles and also minimizes the rate of cellular apoptosis. Obviously, the use of ovarian tissue culture and subsequent production of quality eggs will solve many infertility and genetic problems in the future.