Fertility and Sterility
Volume 90, Issue 1 , Pages 23-32, July 2008

Cryopreservation and xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue: an ultrastructural study

  • Stefania A. Nottola, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anatomy, University of Rome “La Sapienza,” Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Alessandra Camboni, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anatomy, University of Rome “La Sapienza,” Rome, Italy
    • Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
    • ,
  • Anne Van Langendonckt, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
    • ,
  • Dominique Demylle, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
    • ,
  • Guido Macchiarelli, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
    • ,
  • Marie-Madeleine Dolmans, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
    • ,
  • Belen Martinez-Madrid, V.M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
    • ,
  • Silvia Correr, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anatomy, University of Rome “La Sapienza,” Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Jacques Donnez, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Jacques Donnez, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium (FAX: 32-2-764-95-07).

Received 20 September 2006; received in revised form 23 March 2007; accepted 29 May 2007. published online 30 August 2007.

Objective

To analyze the ultrastructure of human ovarian follicles after cryopreservation and short-term xenografting.

Design

Prospective experimental study.

Setting

Academic gynecology and anatomy research units.

Patient(s)

Ovarian cortical biopsy specimens were obtained from 13 patients.

Intervention(s)

Each ovarian biopsy specimen was dissected into pieces of 1 mm3 and divided into three groups: [1] fresh tissue, [2] frozen-thawed tissue, and [3] frozen-thawed tissue xenografted onto the peritoneum of nude mice for 3 weeks.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Follicular ultrastructure was assessed by light and transmission electron microscopy in [1] fresh, [2] frozen, and [3] frozen-grafted tissue.

Result(s)

Thirty-five ovarian follicles were analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy. Twenty-five primordial and primary ovarian follicles were found. Most of them exhibited ultrastructurally well preserved features (fresh [N = 8/10], frozen [N = 7/10], and frozen-grafted [N = 4/5] tissue). Ten secondary follicles were present in xenografts. By transmission electron microscopy, all the healthy-looking secondary follicles (70%) were shown to contain intact oocytes, with features typical of earlier developmental stages, surrounded by several layers of follicular cells.

Conclusion(s)

The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that cryopreservation and xenotransplantation do not appear to greatly affect human primordial/primary follicle ultrastructure. Interestingly, in frozen-thawed xenografts, secondary human ovarian follicles presented a well preserved ultrastructure, but asynchrony between oocyte and granulosa cell development was detected. The possible causes for this asynchrony are discussed.

Key Words: Cryopreservation, human, ovary, transmission electron microscopy, xenotransplantation

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 Drs. Nottola and Camboni have contributed equally to this article.

 Supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (No. 7.4519.04 and No. 7.4547.06), the Fondation St. Luc, the Belgian Federation Against Cancer, Baron Albert Frère and Comte de Spoelberch, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (PRIN funds 2001–2003 and university grants 2002–2004), and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: VII Executive Programme of Scientific Collaboration between Italy and the French-speaking Community of Belgium 2005–2006.

PII: S0015-0282(07)01238-1

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.05.069

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 90, Issue 1 , Pages 23-32, July 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution