Comparing transplantation sites of mouse immature testicular tissue fragments embedded in chitosan scaffold to maintain tissue integrity: Epididymal fat pad or under the back skin

Objective(s): Cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue (ITT) is currently the only technique available for restoring fertility in adolescent boys with cancer. Preclinical investigations assessing the development of human transplanted ITT using a nude mouse model have revealed a notable decrease in spermatogonial stem cells.Materials and Methods: We transplanted ITT from neonatal male NMRI mice (۳–۵ days old), either embedded in a chitosan (CS) scaffold or without it, into the epididymal fat pad (Epi.fat) and back skin of mature (۶–۸ weeks old) male NMRI mice. Grafts were recovered ۱۴ days post-transplantation. We evaluated scaffold cytotoxicity, morphology, in vivo degradation, tissue integrity, seminiferous tubule morphometry, and germ cell survival.Results: The diameters of the seminiferous tubules did not differ significantly between grafted groups. However, the height of the seminiferous epithelium in the Epi.fat + S group was significantly greater than in the Back + S group. The total seminiferous tubule area ratio in the Epi.fat, Epi.fat + S, and Back groups were significantly lower compared to the Back + S group. The number of PLZF-positive cells per seminiferous tubule section was significantly higher in the Back + S group than in the Epi.fat group.Conclusion: Allotransplantation of ITT embedded in a CS scaffold enhanced spermatogonial survival and tissue integrity in both the Epi.fat and subcutaneous back skin. Among the two transplantation sites, the subcutaneous back skin yielded more favorable outcomes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chitosan ، Scaffold ، Spermatogonia stem cells ، Testicular tissue - transplantation ، Tissue engineering