In vitro culture of bovine ovarian cortex fragments supplemented with magnesium-doped zinc oxide nanocomposites.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of in vitro culture medium supplementation with zinc oxide nanocomposites (NCs) doped with magnesium (Mg²⁺), synthesized using magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) as the precursor (ZnO:0.5Mg-MgO) compared to MgCl2 supplementation at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 µg/mL on the viability of bovine ovarian tissue fragments cultured in vitro. The following treatments were performed: Fresh Control, day 0 (FC D0); Control, day 7 (CONT D7); 10 µg/mL of MgCl2 (MG10); 20 µg/mL of MgCl2 (MG20); 30 µg/mL of MgCl2 (MG30); 10 µg/mL of ZnO:0.5Mg nanoparticles (NPs) (NPMG10); 20 µg/mL of ZnO:0.5Mg NPs (NPMG20); 30 µg/mL of ZnO:0.5Mg NPs (NPMG30). Cellular degeneration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) emission, cellular respiratory metabolism through nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [NAD(P)H] and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) emission, and redox status were analyzed, in addition to follicular activation and viability. Statistical analyses were conducted using SigmaPlot software, applying analysis of variance followed by Fisher's LSD post hoc test for mean comparisons, with significance set at P < 0.05. The NPMG20 treatment showed lower cell degeneration rates, higher NAD and FAD autofluorescence, lower ROS generation, and higher follicular viability compared with the controls and MG20. These findings indicate that magnesium-doped ZnO proved effective, providing a favorable environment for cellular and follicular development. However, the potential role of ion interactions in mitigating toxicity remains to be further elucidated.