Assessment of follicular development of immature mouse ovarian tissue encapsulated in sodium alginate grafted under the kidney capsule

 The present study aimed to evaluate the developmental rate of ovarian follicles and the incidence of cell death in grafted immature mouse ovarian tissue encapsulated and non-capsulated in sodium alginate.

 Female (NMRI) mice (n=50) were divided into 3 groups as follows: Group A; the right ovary was removed and encapsulated in sodium alginate then transplanted under kidney capsule, Group B; the right ovary was removed and without encapsulation transplanted under kidney capsule, in both transplanted groups the left ovary was intact. Group C; control group, both ovaries were intact. After transplantation, in the first and fourth estrous cycles at proestrus phase. The morphology of the grafted ovaries, and the percentage of normal follicles were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The incidence of apoptosis cell death was evaluated by anti-BAX immunohistochemical staining.

 At first and fourth estrous cycle, almost 99.5% of follicles had normal morphology and no significant difference was observed between the groups. The follicular development and growth rate in the two grafted groups, was significantly higher than the control group, moreover, these rates were higher in the capsulated group than non-capsulated once (p<0.05). In spite of the presence of some BAX positive cells in the preantral and antral follicles, there was no remarkable reaction for BAX antibody in the primordial and primary follicles in studied groups.

 Despite the high developmental rat and premature ovarian reserve depletion in grafted groups that can affect the longevity of transplanted tissue, while sodium alginate has a positive effect on the follicular development in grafted tissue.