GRADY-DISSERTATION-2017.Pdf (6.311Mb)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EFFECT OF MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS ON EQUINE OVARIAN FOLLICULAR DEVELOPMENT AND GENE EXPRESSION A Dissertation by SICILIA TATIANA GRADY Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Katrin Hinrichs Committee Members, Scott V. Dindot Qinglei Li Ashlee E. Watts Head of Department, Larry J. Suva August 2017 Major Subject: Biomedical Sciences Copyright 2017 Sicilia Tatiana Grady ABSTRACT Aging affects the reproductive efficiency of females. In rodent models, injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improves function and induces trophic mRNA expression in ovaries compromised by chemotherapy. However, little information is available on the effect of MSCs in the aging ovary, an application which if effective in increasing fertility, would have an impact in both human and equine reproduction. The aim of the research outlined in this dissertation was to investigate this area. We hypothesized that injection of MSCs into the ovaries of old mares would increase follicle numbers and increase expression of genes related to follicle growth. We examined for the first time the use of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) to label equine MSCs, to see if this would allow them to be tracked after injection. We found that QD-labeled MSCs retain their ability to proliferate and differentiate. The QDs were maintained in MSCs induced to differentiate into chondrocytes (non-proliferating), but the percentage of labeled cells and the fluorescence intensity decreased to essentially non-detectable within 3 to 5 days in rapidly proliferating cells. Co-culture of equine ovarian tissue with MSCs was not effective due to tissue degradation in culture; however, we used this trial to develop effective methods for isolation of RNA from the extremely fibrous equine ovarian tissue. In a preliminary study on intra-ovarian MSC injection, there was an apparent increase in follicle numbers 4 weeks after injection in 2 randomly-selected young mares. Based on these results, a more comprehensive study was performed on old and young mares to determine if MSC injection affects ovarian function. There was no ii significant increase in follicle numbers after MSC injection in either old or young mares, nor was there an increase in serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone, a marker for numbers of growing follicles. Results of RNA sequencing of ovarian tissue showed that injection of MSCs in old mares was associated with a minor increase in gene expression of factors that might relate to ovarian function. iii CONTRIBUTORS AND FUNDING SOURCES CONTRIBUTORS This work was supervised by a dissertation committee consisting of Dr. Katrin Hinrichs (advisor), Dr. Ashlee E. Watts of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Dr. Qinglei Li of the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, and Dr. Scott V. Dindot of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. The analyses in Chapters III, V and VII were conducted in part by Dr. Gus Wright. The analyses in Chapters III and VII were conducted in part by Dr. James Thompson and Dr. Cecilia Penedo. The analyses in Chapters VI and VIII were conducted in part by Dr. Drew Hillhouse and Kranti Konganti. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspirations, oocyte handling and culture were performed in part by the Equine Embryo Lab Personnel; intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo culture were performed by Dr. Young Ho Choi. Mesenchymal stem cell culture, freezing and thawing for intra-ovarian injections were performed in part by Hsing Fann. All other work conducted for this dissertation was completed by the student independently. FUNDING SOURCES Graduate study was supported by a Merit Scholars Fellowship from the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, the Clinical Equine ICSI Program at iv Texas A&M University, the Link Equine Research Fund from Texas A&M University, a Lechner Scholar Award from Texas A&M University, a Postdoctoral Trainee Research Grant and a Graduate Student Core Facility Experiential Learning Program Grant from the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and a Travel Award from the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Association. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. ii CONTRIBUTORS AND FUNDING SOURCES ..................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................... 3 Development of the oocyte and follicle and factors affecting oocyte quality ...................................................................................................... 3 Mesenchymal stem cells .......................................................................... 32 Mesenchymal stem cells and fertility recovery ....................................... 41 Conclusions and aims .............................................................................. 53 CHAPTER III PROOF OF CONCEPT: INTRA-OVARIAN INJECTION OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS IN MARES ..... 55 Introduction ............................................................................................. 55 Materials and methods ............................................................................ 56 Results ..................................................................................................... 70 Discussion ............................................................................................... 77 CHAPTER IV EFFECT OF DIFFERENT POST-THAW CONDITIONS ON EQUINE MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL VIABILITY ........................................ 81 Introduction ............................................................................................. 81 Materials and methods ............................................................................ 82 Results ..................................................................................................... 84 Discussion ............................................................................................... 85 vi Page CHAPTER V PERSISTENCE OF QUANTUM DOTS IN DIVIDING AND NON-DIVIDING EQUINE MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS .............................. 87 Introduction ............................................................................................. 87 Materials and methods ........................................................................... 88 Results ..................................................................................................... 93 Discussion ............................................................................................... 100 CHAPTER VI CO-CULTURE OF EQUINE OVARIAN EXPLANTS WITH MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS ........................................................................... 105 Introduction ............................................................................................. 105 Materials and methods ............................................................................ 106 Results ..................................................................................................... 109 Discussion ............................................................................................... 113 CHAPTER VII EFFECT OF INTRA-OVARIAN INJECTION OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS ON OVARIAN FUNCTION IN OLD AND YOUNG MARES ........................................................ 119 Introduction ............................................................................................. 119 Materials and methods ............................................................................ 120 Results ..................................................................................................... 126 Discussion ............................................................................................... 147 CHAPTER VIII EFFCT OF INTRA-OVARIAN INJECTION OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS ON EQUINE OVARIAN GENE EXPRESSION ............................................................................ 152 Introduction ............................................................................................. 152 Materials and methods ............................................................................ 153 Results ..................................................................................................... 155 Discussion ............................................................................................... 170 CHAPTER IX CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................. 178 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 180 APPENDIX ............................................................................................................... 220 vii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 3.1 Chondrogenic pellet after MSC differentiation .........................................