The study aim was to investigate the biological and biomechanical features of a chemotherapy-induced ovarian dysfunction (CIOD) rat model after intervention with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) and human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (h-AMSCs), thus providing a biological and biomechanical research basis for clinical treatment.
The serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the rat CIOD models were evaluated on the 14th, 30th, 60th, and 90th day of intervention with h-AMSCs and UC-MSCs. In addition, the ovaries in each group were sampled on the 14th and 90th day of intervention for tissue morphology and tensile testing.
The serum levels of E2, LH, and VEGF in the h-AMSC and UC-MSC groups were greater than in the model group, but the serum FSH level was less than in the model group, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05); the maximum tensile stress and maximum strain in h-AMSC and UC-MSC groups were significantly greater than in the model group (P < 0.05).
UC-MSC and h-AMSC intervention restored damaged ovarian morphology, elasticity, and toughness to a certain extent, and ovarian function showed some recovery.