The crucial role of mechanical heterogeneity in regulating follicle development and ovulation with engineered ovarian microtissue.
Contemporary systems for in vitro culture of ovarian follicles do not recapitulate the mechanical heterogeneity in mammalian ovary. Here we report microfluidic generation of biomimetic ovarian microtissue for miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) culture of early secondary preantral follicles by using alginate (harder) and collagen (softer) to fabricate the ovarian cortical and medullary tissues, respectively. This biomimetic configuration greatly facilitates follicle development to antral stage. Moreover, it enables in vitro ovulation of cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) from the antral follicles in the absence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) that are well accepted to be responsible for ovulation in contemporary literature. These data reveal the crucial role of mechanical heterogeneity in the mammalian ovary in regulating follicle development and ovulation. The biomimetic ovarian microtissue and the microfluidic technology developed in this study are valuable for improving in vitro culture of follicles to preserve fertility and for understanding the mechanism of follicle development and ovulation to facilitate the search of cures to infertility due to ovarian disorders.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Jung Kyu
JK
Choi
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Pranay
P
Agarwal
Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Haishui
H
Huang
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Shuting
S
Zhao
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: he.429@osu.edu.
Xiaoming
X
He
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D010542:Peromyscus; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
Alginate; Follicle; Mechanobiology; Microfluidic; Microtissue; Ovulation