An investigation of the therapeutic potential of the testicular tissue encapsulated in amnion membrane in mouse model: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND

Restoring fertility in male cancer individuals through testicular tissue transplantation faces challenges due to hypoxia-induced loss of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Hydrogel encapsulation was explored to minimize hypoxic damage in testicular tissue transplantation. For this purpose, human amnion membrane (hAM)-derived hydrogel could be an alternative.

OBJECTIVE

The potential of hAM-derived hydrogel to support testis tissue grafts was evaluated.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In this experimental study, testicular tissue samples (1-3 mm3) were obtained from 16 male NMRI mice (4-5 wk, 22 ± 2 gr). These tissue fragments were either encapsulated within a hydrogel derived from a hAM or left unencapsulated (control) prior to being autologously transplanted beneath the dorsal skin of mice subjected to hemilateral or bilateral orchiectomy. The grafted testicular tissues were histologically evaluated for key parameters, including the integrity of seminiferous tubules, survival of SSCs, Sertoli cell functionality, as well as hypoxia and apoptosis on day 21.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between groups regarding ST integrity, number of SSCs, Sertoli cell functionality, or the rate of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and apoptosis (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study demonstrated no effect of hAM hydrogel encapsulation on the outcomes of testicular tissue transplantation.