Table 1.
Parameters for mares undergoing intra-ovarian injection of mesenchymal stem cells or vehicle during the Pre-treatment, Treatment, and Post-treatment periods
| Parameter | Mare group | Pre-treatment | Treatment | Post-treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follicle number per mare | MSC | 2.8 (1, 4) | 1.7 (1, 3) | 2.3 (1, 4) |
| V | 1.9 (1, 2) | 1.8 (1, 3) | 2.0 | |
| MSC-Y | 4.1 (2, 7) | 4.8 (2, 7) | 4.1 (2, 6) | |
| V-Y | 2.8 (1, 4.25) | 1.8 (1, 3) | 2.4 (1, 4) | |
| Oocyte recovery | MSC | 56.1% (64/114) | 43.5% (10/23) | 59.5% (25/42) |
| V | 62.9% (17/27) | 45.5% (5/11) | 43.7% (7/16) | |
| Maturation to MII | MSC | 57.80% (37/64) | 50% (5/10) | 60% (15/25) |
| V | 58.80% (10/17) | 60% (3/5) | 85.7% (6/7) | |
| Blastocyst development | MSC | 29.7% (11/37) | 40%(2/5) | 13.3% (2/15) |
| V | 0% (0/10) | 0% (0/3) | 0% (0/6) |
Follicle numbers are for the injected ovary only and are expressed as mean (lower 2.5% and upper 97.5% limits). There were no significant differences in follicle number or in oocyte recovery, maturation, or blastocyst rates in either MSC-injected or vehicle-injected mares among periods, or between MSC-injected and vehicle-injected mares within period (P > 0.05)
MSC, aged mares receiving MSC injection (n = 6); V, aged mares receiving vehicle injection (n = 2); MSC-Y, young mares receiving MSC injection (n = 4); V-Y, young mares receiving vehicle injection (n = 2); Pre-treatment, the 8-week period before injection; Treatment, the 4-week period following injection; Post-treatment, the 8-week period following the Treatment period