Chlorogenic acid improves functional potential of follicles in mouse whole ovarian tissues in vitro

Background Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the well-known polyphenol compounds possessing several important biological and therapeutic functions. In order to optimize a culture system to achieve complete development of follicles, we focused on the effects of CGA supplementation during in vitro culture (IVC) on follicular development, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, developmental gene expression, and functional potential in cultured mouse ovarian tissue. Methods and results The collected whole murine ovaries were randomly divided into four groups: (1) non-cultured group (control 1) with 7-day-old mouse ovaries, (2) non-cultured group (control 2) with 14-day-old mouse ovaries, (3) cultured group (experimental 1) with the culture plates containing only the basic culture medium, (4) cultured group (experimental 2) with the culture plates containing basic culture medium + CGA (50, 100 and 200 mu mol/L CGA). Afterward, histological evaluation, biochemical analyses, the expression assessment of genes related to follicular development and apoptosis as well as the analysis of 17-beta-estradiol were performed. The results showed that supplementation of ovarian tissue with the basic culture media using CGA (100 mu mol/L) significantly increased the survival, developmental and functional potential of follicles in whole mouse ovarian tissues after 7 days of culture. Furthermore, CGA (100 mu mol/L) attenuated oxidative damage and enhanced the concentration of antioxidant capacity along with developmental gene expression. Conclusion It seems that supplementation of ovarian tissue with culture media using CGA could optimize follicular growth and development in the culture system.