The role of PTEN-PI3K-AKT-FOXO3 in menopausal human ovarian surface epithelium during differentiation from embryonic stem cells to oocyte like cells and blastocyst like cells

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to obtain embryonic-like stem cells from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) which was taken from the postmenopausal women and planned to differentiate into oocyte-like cells and - from the samples taken at the end of the first, second and third week, stem cell markers and during this period, the changes comprised in the PTEN-PI3K-AKT-FOXO3A signal pathway were intended to be analysed. Material and Method: The study, ovary tissue samples harvested from the postmenopausal women who signed the ethic consent form and applied to the Celal Bayar University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Merkez Efendi State Hospital Maternity Clinic due to some gynaecologic diseases also operated and OSE cell cultures obtained from the over tissue cells by getting samples in the first week, second week and third week and by applying indirect immunohistochemistry staining and the method of biotin peroxidase method using the routin histochemistry and anti- OCT-4, anti-SSEA-4, anti-C-KİT, anti-VASA, anti- anti-ZP-4, anti-CK-18, anti-PTEN, anti-PI3K, anti-pAKT, anti-FOXO3 were stained. Results: In the stained preparates of over tissue samples stained by Hematoxilen- Eosin, primordial or developing follicular structures weren't observed due to taken by postmenopausal women. OSE was observed as a simple cuboidal epithelium. In the immunohistochemistry observations, it was observed that OCT-4, SSEA-4, C-KIT found between OSE cells in the tissue samples, stem cells which were exhaled and while in the cortical area in the OCT-4 and SSEA-4,staining wasn't observed, it was observed in C-KIT, PTEN, PI3K, AKT, FOXO3A. In CK-18, it was observed in the epithelium. The expression of ZP-4 stem cells and epithelium cells was observed. In VASA, in all tissues, the expression was widely observed and it was evaluated by artefact. In the cell culture samples, while OCT-4, SSEA-4 stained in the second day and in the first week sample, VASA and C-KIT were in the second week, ZP-4 was in the third week and CK-18 was stained during all weeks. Conclusion: It was identified that in the third week, the gotten OSE cells turned into oocyte-like and blastocyst-like cells. Although the follicular structures weren't found in the ovaries of postmenopausal women, the existence of stem cells between OSE cells found interesting. From these cells, the possibility of development of oocyte-like cells has been showed. It was identified that while the stem cells between the OSE cells were changing into oocyte and /or blastocyst-like cells, the PTEN-PI3K-AKT-FOXO3A pathway showed active function. The existence of stem cells in the OSE and the ability to transform into oocyte. These cells can be used in the cases of ovary deficiency and also the differentiation of the stem cells got from OSE or embryos into different tissues can expand the horizon in the regenerative medicine.