Comparing transplantation sites of mouse immature testicular tissue fragments embedded in chitosan scaffold to maintain tissue integrity: Epididymal fat pad or under the back skin.
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OBJECTIVES: Cryopreservation of immature testicular tissue (ITT) is currently the only technique available for restoring fertility in adolescent boys with cancer. Preclinical investigations assessing the development of human transplanted ITT using a nude mouse model have revealed a notable decrease in spermatogonial stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We transplanted ITT from neonatal male NMRI mice (3-5 days old), either embedded in a chitosan (CS) scaffold or without it, into the epididymal fat pad (Epi.fat) and back skin of mature (6-8 weeks old) male NMRI mice. Grafts were recovered 14 days post-transplantation. We evaluated scaffold cytotoxicity, morphology, in vivo degradation, tissue integrity, seminiferous tubule morphometry, and germ cell survival. RESULTS: The diameters of the seminiferous tubules did not differ significantly between grafted groups. However, the height of the seminiferous epithelium in the Epi.fat + S group was significantly greater than in the Back + S group. The total seminiferous tubule area ratio in the Epi.fat, Epi.fat + S, and Back groups were significantly lower compared to the Back + S group. The number of PLZF-positive cells per seminiferous tubule section was significantly higher in the Back + S group than in the Epi.fat group. CONCLUSION: Allotransplantation of ITT embedded in a CS scaffold enhanced spermatogonial survival and tissue integrity in both the Epi.fat and subcutaneous back skin. Among the two transplantation sites, the subcutaneous back skin yielded more favorable outcomes.