New Facts About Ovarian Stem Cells: The Origin and the Fate

Abstract

Objectives: Infertility is one of the wide-spreading problems that involves 15% of couples who are in reproductive age. Most of the young couples that suffer from infertility could be cured by means of highly-developed methods and associated reproductive technology (ART). It is important to study about the treatments and methods to improve fertility rate, oogenesis and folliculogenesis. In this study, different types of stem cells which could be used for treatment of infertility would be introduced and discussed. Evidence Acquisition: Various internet search engines and data bases including Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, The British Library, and Library of Congress were used. Results: During the process of puberty, follicles grow and change. Finally they become Graffin follicles. There are various theories about the origin of the follicles and follicular cells. Many diseases or side effects of various therapies (specially the methods that are used in cancer treatment) affect a high range of female patients and cause infertility. The transplantation of exo-ovarian stem cells could be applied in these patients to get advantage of stem cells with non-ovarian derivation. These cells could be used in treatment procedures and in producing new oocytes and follicles. In this study, the role of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs), mesenchymal stem cells, peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), somatic stem cells (SSCs), and ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) are reviewed in treatment of infertility. Conclusions: The use of stem cells to provide new ovarian reserve or to treat damaged follicles could be successful methods to achieve fertility.