Application of cattle placental stem cells for treating ovarian follicular cyst

Shao-Yu Peng; Tsung-Hsin Wu; Tzu-Yi Lin; Ling-Yien Hii; Kok-Seong Chan; Tzu-Yen Fu; Shen-Chang Chang; Perng-Chih Shen; Kang-You Liu; Steven W Shaw

doi:10.4252/wjsc.v12.i11.1366

Application of cattle placental stem cells for treating ovarian follicular cyst

World J Stem Cells. 2020 Nov 26;12(11):1366-1376. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i11.1366.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 912, Taiwan.
² College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan.
⁴ Kaohsiung Animal Propagation Station, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Pingtung 912, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background: High humidity and temperature in Taiwan have significant effects on the reproductivity of Holstein cattle, resulting in the occurrence of bovine ovarian follicular cyst (OFC). Because of economic loss from OFC, manual rupture and hormone injection have been advocated for the management of OFC. However, these incomplete treatments increase hormone resistance in cattle. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from placental stem cells (PSCs) demonstrate potential properties for the treatment of several diseases via promoting angiogenesis and immune modulation.

Aim: To establish the possibility of cattle placental stem cells (CPSCs) as a treatment modality for OFC of cows in Taiwan.

Methods: The cows with OFC were divided into three groups: control (BC1 and BC2), hormone (H1 and H2), and CPSC (PS1 and PS2) treatment groups. In the hormone treatment group, the cows were given gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-prostaglandin-GnRH intramuscular injection with or without drainage of follicular fluid. In the CPSC treatment group, CPSCs were isolated from the placenta after labor. With the identification of surface antigen on stem cells, the cows were administered ovarian injection of 1 × 10⁶ or 6 × 10⁶ CPSCs with drainage. In all groups, OFC was scanned by ultrasound once a week for a total of seven times. The concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in serum were tested in the same period. The estrus cycle was analyzed by food intake and activity. If estrus was detected, artificial insemination was conducted. Then the cow was monitored by ultrasound for confirmation of pregnancy.

Results: After 7 d of culture, CPSCs were successfully isolated from placental pieces. CPSCs significantly proliferated every 24 h and had high expression of MSC markers such as cluster of differentiation 44, as determined by flow cytometry. Ultrasound showed lower numbers of OFCs with drainage of follicular fluid. We achieved recovery rates of 0%, 50%, 50%, 75%, 75% and 75% in BC1, BC2, H1, H2, PS1, and PS2, respectively. Higher concentrations of progesterone were detected in the CPSC treatment groups. However, both hormone and CPSC treatment groups had no significant difference in the concentration of estradiol. The estrus rate was 0%, 100%, 25%, 75%, 75% and 75% in BC1, BC2, H1, H2, PS1, and PS2, respectively. The two fetuses were born in H2 and PS1. In brief, cows with CPSC injection achieved higher recovery, estrus, and inseminated conception rates.

Conclusion: CPSCs have efficacy in treating cows with OFC, and thus, may serve as an alternative treatment for reproductive disorders.

Keywords: Cow; Estrus rate; Ovarian follicular cyst; Placenta; Recovery rate; Stem cell.