iPSC-Derived Ovarian Tissue Restores Ovarian Function in Subfertile Mice and After Gonadotoxic Chemotherapy

Many reproductive age women with cancer who receive chemotherapy are exposed to gonadotoxic agents and risk diminished ovarian reserve, sterility, and premature menopause. Previously, we reported the derivation of steroidogenic ovarian cells from induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells. Derived cells not only produced reproductive hormones, but also displayed markers of ovarian tissue and primordial gametes. Here, we describe that human follicular fluid (HFF), when added to our stem cell differentiation system, enhances the steroidogenic potential of differentiating stem cells and increases the subpopulation of cells that express the ovarian and germ cell markers GJA1 and ZP1, respectively. More importantly, using an in vivo model of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in subfertile nude mice, we demonstrate that orthotopic implantation of these derived cells restores ovarian hormone synthesis and produces functional stem cell-derived oocytes. Additionally, these cells also ameliorate subfertility in nude mice, as demonstrated by the delivery of multiple litters of healthy pups from stem cell-derived oocytes. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that stem cell-derived steroidogenic ovarian tissue could be used to promote neo-gametogenesis and treat the endocrinologic and reproductive sequelae of premature ovarian insufficiency. One Sentence SummaryWe show that orthotopic injection of sorted, differentiated iPSCs in ovaries of subfertile mice restores reproductive hormone synthesis and fertility.