| Objective:
Panax ginseng is a popular traditional herb that has been used for complementary and alternative medicine in eastern Asia, because of its pharmacological compounds, ginsenosides. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Panax ginseng extract (PGE) at different concentrations on in vitro follicular function and development in the three dimensional (3D) culture system fabricated with sodium alginate after 12 days culture.
Material and Methods:
Preantral follicles (n = 661) mechanically isolated from the ovaries of 14 day-old female NMRI mice using insulin syringes with needles 29-gauge. Follicles were individually capsulated within sodium alginate, afterwards divided into main four groups, including control and experimental groups 1, 2, and 3. Then, they were cultured for 12 days in the medium supplemented with different concentrations of PGE (0, 50, 100, and 500 µg/mL, respectively). At the end of last culture period in all groups, the mean diameter and maturation of follicles, follicular steroid production, mRNA expression level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSH-R), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in collected metaphase II (MII) oocytes determined.
Results:
The mean diameter of follicles in experimental group 2 was significantly increased relative to other groups (P < 0.001). The percentage of the survival, maturation rate and the secretion of hormones were higher in experimental group 2 than the other groups (P < 0.05). Follicles cultured in the presence of 100 µg/mL PGE had higher levels of PCNA, FSH-R mRNA expression in comparison to other groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, collected oocytes from experimental groups 2 and 3 had lower levels of ROS with respect to other groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that PGE at the concentration of 100 µg/mL resulted in higher follicular function and development in the 3D culture system. |