Therapeutic potential of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in ameliorating ovarian aging: Insights from single-cell analysis

Figure 3 Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation ameliorates oocyte mitochondrial function in aged mice. A: Representative images of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in oocytes, detected by DCFH-DA fluorescence; B: Quantitative analysis of ROS levels in oocytes. ROS levels were significantly elevated in the aged control (A-CON) group and were reduced following umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (A-MSC); C: Assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) using JC-1 staining. Representative fluorescence images are shown (red: J-aggregates, high ΔΨm; green: J-monomers, low ΔΨm); D: Quantitative analysis of the JC-1 red-to-green fluorescence intensity ratio. The reduced ratio observed in A-CON oocytes was significantly restored by A-MSC; E: Absolute quantification of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in individual metaphase II oocytes. The marked depletion of mtDNA copy number in the A-CON group was significantly rescued by A-MSC. Scale bar = 20 μm. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001, ^dP < 0.0001. Y-CON: Young control; A-CON: Aged control; A-MSC: Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; mtDNA: Mitochondrial DNA.