Follicular growth and estradiol follow-up after subcutaneous xenografting of fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian tissue
Received 4 October 2006; received in revised form 30 March 2007; accepted 30 March 2007. published online 20 August 2007.
Objective
To assess ovarian cortex surrounding benign ovarian cysts after cryopreservation and grafting to severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice.
Design
Animal study.
Setting
Academic research laboratories.
Patient(s)
Ovarian tissue obtained from 15 patients.
Intervention(s)
Grafting of fresh and frozen/thawed ovarian tissue into the subcutaneous space of 22 SCID mice for 80 days.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Histologic analysis before and after grafting. Serum E2 measured before (after 37 days of grafting) and after FSH/LH supplementation (end of the study).
Result(s)
After grafting, follicular density had decreased for frozen/thawed tissue in all cases. The follicular distribution was modified in fresh tissue: Primordial follicles proportion was reduced (79% vs. 17%), whereas the primary and secondary ones were increased (21% vs. 57% and 0% vs. 23%, respectively). The same tendency was observed in frozen/thawed tissue. Significant E2 secretion was obtained before and after FSH/LH supplementation in castrated mice, grafted with either fresh or frozen/thawed tissue.
Conclusion(s)
Fresh and cryopreserved ovarian cortex surrounding benign ovarian cysts grafted into the subcutaneous space of SCID mice is able to sustain ovarian tissue function, although follicular growth appears lower with frozen/thawed tissue.
aDepartment of Biology of Development and Reproduction–CECOS, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
bDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Human Reproduction, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
cPathology Laboratory, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
dBiology of Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, University Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
eDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
fRIA Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
Reprint requests: Benoit Schubert, M.D., Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Unitē fonctionelle de Biologie de la Reproduction, Pavillon Benjamin Delessert, 83 boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France (FAX: +33-1-42-17-78-89).
This work was supported by a hospital grant (PHRC).
ABSTRACT