Context: Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) are less invasive than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to obtain for cell therapy. Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the germinal cells characteristics and repairs in seminiferous tubules of busulfan-induced azoospermic rats after AT-MSCs transplantation. Settings and Design: Experimental case-control study. Materials and Methods: In the present experimental study, donors AT-MSCs were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of two Sprague-Dawley rats. The recipients (n = 5) were received two doses of 10 mg/kg of busulfan with 21 days interval to stop endogenous spermatogenesis. After induction of azoospermia by busulfan, rats were injected with the AT-MSCs into the efferent duct of right testes. After 60 days, the right testes were injected AT-MSCs were compared to left azoospermic testes. Five untreated male rats served as negative control. Statistical Analysis Used: Stereological indices were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and LSD post-hoc test. The spermatogenesis index was compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: After stereological analyses, the seminiferous tubules treated with AT-MSCs had normal morphology. The untreated seminiferous tubules were empty. Spermatogenesis was observed in most cell-treated seminiferous tubules. Conclusions: The testis of busulfan-induced azoospermic rats accepted transplanted AT-MSCs. The transplanted AT-MSCs could induce spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules of the rat.

Amin Tamadon, Davood Mehrabani, Farhad Rahmanifar, Alireza Raayat Jahromi, Mohadeseh Panahi, Shahrokh Zare, Zahra Khodabandeh, Iman Razeghian Jahromi, Nader Tanideh, Mehdi Dianatpour, Mani Ramzi, and Omid Koohi-Hoseinabadi. International Journal of Stem Cells 2015;8:134-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.15283/ijsc.2015.8.2.134

Objective(s): Herbal medicines are an alternative choice for treatment or controlling of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed was evaluated on ovarian hormones and histological changes of uterus and ovary in a PCOS-induced rat model.Materials and Methods: Twenty four rats divided into four groups including negative control, positive control, PCOS and treatment groups. Positive control group received hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed for 30 days. PCOS was induced by single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate. Treatment group was treated with flaxseed extract 7 weeks after induction of PCOS for 30 days. Ovaries and uterus were dissected out and their sections were used for histomorphometric study. Levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were measured in the serum. Results: In the treatment group, flaxseed extract increased level of progesterone (P<0.05), while decreased testosterone (P<0.05) compared with the PCOS group. Concentrations of estrogen and DHEA did not change significantly in comparison with the PCOS group. Histomorphometric study showed that in the treatment group, the number of preantral follicles, antral follicles and corpus luteum increased compared with the PCOS group (P<0.05), but the number of cystic follicles and diameter of antral follicles decreased (P<0.05), and the number of primary follicle did not alter significantly. In the treatment group, the thickness of granulosa layer increased, but the thickness of theca layer and tunica albuginea decreased compared to the PCOS group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Hormonal profile and histomorphometric features of ovary that were disturbed by PCOS induction were ameliorated by hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed.

Objective(s): Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) with more potent immunomodulatory effects, greater proliferative potential and secretion of growth factors and cytokines in comparison with bone marrow derived MSCs are more appropriate for cell therapy. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the histomorphometric effect of AT-MSCs allotransplantation on regeneration of germinal layer cells of seminiferous tubules in busulfan-induced azoospermic hamsters. Materials and Methods: In the present experimental case-control study, AT-MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue of two female and six male donor albino hamsters, and testes of the males were simultaneously used as negative control group. Six mature male recipient hamsters received two doses of busulfan with three weeks interval to stop endogenous spermatogenesis. Right testis of hamsters was intratubular injected with AT-MSCs via efferent duct 35 days after induction of azoospermia and was used as cell therapy group. The left testis without cell therapy was served as azoospermia group. Results: After 35 days, testes and epididymis in all groups were removed for histological evaluation. Histomorphometric analyses of AT-MSCs-treated testes and epididymis showed that the epithelial tissue of seminiferous tubules was normally repaired in most cell-treated seminiferous tubules, and spermatozoa were present in epididymis tubes in comparison with intact testes. The untreated seminiferous tubules and epididymis tubes of azoospermia group were empty. Conclusion: Allotransplanted AT-MSCs could successfully induce spermatogenesis in azoospermic seminiferous tubules of hamster. Therefore, AT-MSCs can be suggested as an attractive candidate in cell transplantation of azoospermia.