3D gonadal culture systems gain traction in cats and dogs
Bottom line
A new Theriogenology review maps out how three-dimensional culture systems could help solve one of companion-animal reproduction’s biggest bottlenecks: recreating the ovarian and testicular “niche” needed for germ cells to survive, grow, and mature in vitro. In “3D microenvironments for gonadal cell development in domestic cats and dogs,” Martina Colombo, Valeria Vurchio, and Gaia Cecilia Luvoni describe how hydrogels, organoids, air-liquid interface systems, biomimetic scaffolds, and microfluidic devices are being explored to better support gonadal cells in species whose reproductive biology has made assisted reproduction especially difficult. The paper was published online ahead of print on September 21, 2026, and positions dogs and cats as both target species and translational models for wild canids and felids. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is less about near-term clinical fertility services and more about the research infrastructure needed to improve oocyte maturation, sperm development, gonadal tissue culture, and genetic preservation in small animals. The review argues that conventional two-dimensional culture has important limits, while 3D systems may better preserve cell function and tissue architecture. That could matter for fertility preservation in prepubertal patients, salvage of valuable genetics after gonadectomy or unexpected death, and conservation programs that use domestic cats and dogs as models for endangered carnivores. Progress is still uneven, though: feline work is generally further along than canine work, and testicular applications remain especially challenging. (air.unimi.it)
What to watch: Watch for studies that move beyond proof-of-concept culture systems to species-specific protocols that produce consistently functional oocytes or sperm, especially in canine models. (air.unimi.it)
Key facts
- Article type
- Review
- Journal
- Theriogenology
- Title
- 3D microenvironments for gonadal cell development in domestic cats and dogs
- Authors
- Martina Colombo, Valeria Vurchio, and Gaia Cecilia Luvoni
- Publication date
- September 21, 2026
- Species
- Domestic cats and dogs
- Main focus
- 3D culture systems to recreate the ovarian and testicular niche for germ cell survival, growth, and maturation in vitro
- 3D platforms discussed
- Hydrogels, organoids, air-liquid interface systems, biomimetic scaffolds, and microfluidic devices
- Key takeaway
- Feline work is generally further along than canine work, and testicular applications remain especially challenging
A new Theriogenology review is putting fresh attention on an old problem in small-animal reproduction: how to keep gonadal cells behaving like gonadal cells once they leave the body. In “3D microenvironments for gonadal cell development in domestic cats and dogs,” researchers from the University of Milan argue that the next gains in feline and canine assisted reproduction may depend less on standard media tweaks and more on building culture systems that better mimic the ovary or testis itself. The article was published online ahead of print on September 21, 2026. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
That focus reflects a long-standing constraint in domestic carnivore reproduction. Dogs and cats have species-specific reproductive physiology that has limited the direct transfer of assisted reproductive technology protocols from other mammals, a challenge also highlighted in a separate 2026 Theriogenology review on gamete engineering and embryo technologies in domestic carnivores. Earlier work from Colombo and colleagues has similarly argued that conventional in vitro systems can alter morphology and function, while 3D and microfluidic approaches may more closely reproduce in vivo conditions. (lifescience.net)
In the new review, the authors outline a toolkit of emerging 3D platforms: hydrogel encapsulation, organoids, air-liquid interface systems, biomimetic scaffolds, and microfluidic devices. The goal is to provide structural and biochemical support for germ cells and their surrounding somatic cells, which together regulate survival, growth, and differentiation. The review frames this as a prerequisite for in vitro gametogenesis, noting that while complete follicle growth to metaphase II oocytes has been achieved in rodents and humans, and in vitro spermatogenesis has been achieved in murine models, translation to small domestic animals remains difficult. (air.unimi.it)
The domestic cat appears to be the more advanced model so far. Prior presentations and reviews from this research group note that 3D systems have shown promise for follicular and oocyte growth, and that feline applications could be particularly valuable because in vitro maturation and embryo development rates in cats still lag behind other species. Related feline preservation work has also continued to move forward, including ovarian tissue vitrification studies and broader reviews of testicular tissue cryopreservation. At the same time, the literature makes clear that success in maintaining structure does not automatically translate into fully functional gametes. (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
There are also signs of why the field is attracting attention beyond companion-animal breeding. The review explicitly points to fertility and biodiversity preservation, especially for prepubertal individuals and endangered species. That fits with the broader carnivore biotechnology literature, which has treated domestic cats and dogs as practical models for wild felids and canids. One recent review of feline testicular preservation described live kittens produced after ICSI using sperm recovered from frozen-thawed testicular tissue, an important proof of functional recovery even though it did not solve the larger challenge of complete in vitro spermatogenesis. (air.unimi.it)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the immediate takeaway isn’t that 3D gonadal culture is ready for routine practice. It’s that the research agenda is becoming more engineered, more species-specific, and potentially more relevant to fertility preservation decisions made in clinics and referral centers. If these systems improve the handling of ovarian or testicular tissue collected during routine sterilization, oncology care, or postmortem genetic salvage, they could eventually expand options for preserving valuable germplasm in both companion animals and conservation programs. That may be especially relevant for academic theriogenology, specialty reproduction services, zoo and wildlife collaborations, and biobanking efforts. (air.unimi.it)
The caution is that most of this remains preclinical. The field still needs reproducible protocols, better validation of cell function, and evidence that these platforms improve downstream reproductive outcomes rather than just tissue appearance or short-term viability. Canine translation may be particularly slow because dog reproductive physiology has historically resisted standard ART approaches more than feline systems have. That means veterinary readers should see this paper as a marker of direction, not a practice-changing breakthrough. (air.unimi.it)
What to watch: The next meaningful milestones will be studies showing that 3D culture systems can reliably generate developmentally competent oocytes or sperm in cats or dogs, plus clearer timelines for integrating those methods into cryobanking and conservation workflows. (air.unimi.it)