线粒体靶向策略提升卵巢冷冻保存效果：SS31 联合 rhGM-CSF 凝胶促进卵泡存活

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Published: 28 October 2026

Qin Zeng¹^na1,
Kai Wang²^na1,
Guohui Zhang ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0008-8043-5915¹^na1,
Yangbao Miao³^na1,
Yunchang Luo⁴,
Dongsheng Xiong¹,
Ling Yu¹,
Libing He¹,
Li Wang¹,
Xinrong Du⁵,
Jun Liu⁵,
Rong Li¹,
Min Jiang⁵,
Yuhong Zhao⁶,
Ningjing Li⁵,
Changli Han⁵,
Heqiu Yan⁶,
Jiuzhi Zeng ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6363-8170¹,
Wenming Xu ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3686-229X⁷ &
…
Weixin Liu^1,5

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Abstract

Global fertility rates are in decline, underscoring the importance of effective fertility preservation strategies. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation (OTCT) shows great promise but faces challenges like oxidative stress, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and poor follicle survival due to burn out. Protecting and preserving a greater number of primordial follicles remains pivotal to the success of this technology. While current strategies predominantly rely on antioxidants, their efficacy is constrained by non-specificity and the inability to achieve sustained release at the transplantation site. In this study, we explored the potential of elamipretide (SS31), a novel mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant peptide, to address these limitations. By combining SS31 with a recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) gel, we achieved localized and sustained release of SS31 at the transplantation site in rabbits. This combination demonstrated synergistic effects by reducing oxidative stress, improving mitochondrial function, and enhancing follicular survival. Notably, reproductive endocrine function was restored 8 weeks post-transplantation. Proteomics and metabolomics analyses revealed that these improvements were primarily attributed to the activation of energy metabolism pathway. Our findings suggest improved transplantation outcomes in preclinical settings, highlighting the potential of this strategy to serve as an efficient and precise approach for women requiring urgent fertility preservation in the future.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Jun Chang for technical support during the ovarian transplantation surgery.

Funding

This work was supported by The Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Program (No. 2024NSFSC1678), Medical Youth Innovation Research Project of Sichuan Province(No. Q23064); Science and Technology Research Special Project of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(25MSZX528); The Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects (No. 2023ZYD0116); Sichuan Provincial Cadre Health Research Project (Grant No. 2024-2201); the Key Medical Science and Technology Research and Development Project of Sichuan Provincial Health Commission (No. 21ZD009), Medical Research Project of Sichuan Medical Association (No. S23027); Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory/Center for Development and Regeneration (No. 24LHFYSZ1-01).

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Author notes

These authors contributed equally: Qin Zeng, Kai Wang, Guohui Zhang, Yangbao Miao.

Authors and Affiliations

Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
Qin Zeng, Guohui Zhang, Dongsheng Xiong, Ling Yu, Libing He, Li Wang, Rong Li, Jiuzhi Zeng & Weixin Liu
Department of Acute Care Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Kai Wang
Department of Haematology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’ s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Yangbao Miao
College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Yunchang Luo
School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
Xinrong Du, Jun Liu, Min Jiang, Ningjing Li, Changli Han & Weixin Liu
School of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
Yuhong Zhao & Heqiu Yan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
Wenming Xu

Authors

Qin Zeng
Kai Wang
Guohui Zhang
Yangbao Miao
Yunchang Luo
Dongsheng Xiong
Ling Yu
Libing He
Li Wang
Xinrong Du
Jun Liu
Rong Li
Min Jiang
Yuhong Zhao
Ningjing Li
Changli Han
Heqiu Yan
Jiuzhi Zeng
Wenming Xu
Weixin Liu

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jiuzhi Zeng, Wenming Xu or Weixin Liu.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Zeng, Q., Wang, K., Zhang, G. et al. Mitochondrial-targeted strategies for advancing ovarian cryopreservation: enhancing follicular survival and reproductive health. npj Regen Med (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-026-00521-7

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Received: 07 January 2025
Accepted: 01 October 2026
Published: 28 October 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-026-00521-7