Effect of Intra-ovarian Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells or its Conditioned Media on Repeated OPU-IVEP Outcomes in Jersey Heifers and Its Relationship with Follicular Fluid Inflammatory Markers

Repeated Ovum Pick Up (OPU) could have a detrimental effect on ovarian function, reducing In Vitro Embryo Production (IVEP). The present study examined the therapeutic effect of adipose–derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) or its Conditioned Medium (ConM) on ovarian trauma following repeated OPU. Resolvin E1 (RvE1) and Interleukin-12 (IL-12) were investigated as biomarkers.

Jersey heifers (n=8) experienced 11 OPU sessions including 5 pre-treatment and 6 treatment sessions. Heifers received intra-ovarian administration of MSCs or ConM (right ovary) and Dulbecco’s Modified Phosphate Buffer Saline (DMPBS; left ovary) after OPU in sessions 5 and 8 and 2 weeks after session 11. The concentrations of RvE1 and IL-12 in follicular fluid was evaluated on sessions 1, 5, 6, 9, and 4 weeks after session 11. Following each OPU session, the IVEP parameters were recorded.

Intra-ovarian administration of MSCs, ConM, and DMPBS did not affect IVEP parameters (p>0.05). The concentration of IL-12 in follicular fluid increased at the last session of pre-treatment (Session 5; p<0.05) and remained elevated throughout the treatment period. There was no correlation between IL-12 and IVEP parameters (p>0.05). However, RvE1 remained relatively high during the pre-treatment and decreased toward the end of treatment period (p<0.05). This in turn was associated with decline in some IVEP parameters (p<0.05).

Intra-ovarian administration of MSCs or ConM during repeated OPU did not enhance IVEP outcomes in Bos taurus heifers. The positive association between RvE1 and some of IVEP parameters could nominate RvE1 as a promising biomarker to predict IVEP parameters following repeated OPU.