Freezing, thawing, and autograft of ovarian fragments in sheep: preliminary experiments and histologic assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of freezing and thawing on the histologic changes in ovarian fragments from sheep and to determine the feasibility of ovarian autografts.


METHODS
Histologic evaluation of follicles that survived after freezing at -196 degrees C for 2 weeks. Histologic evaluation of ovarian fragments 6 months after the autografts.


METHODS
Laboratoire de Zootechnie, Ecole National Véterinaire, Marcy l'Etoile, France.


METHODS
Six ewes aged 6 months to 1 year.


METHODS
Cortical fragments were prepared from the right ovary of 6 lambs and were grafted immediately to the contralateral ovarian hilus or were cooled slowly to -196 degrees C in medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide for 2 weeks. The autografts were recovered 6 months later.


RESULTS
Histologic examination of ovarian slices after freezing showed no destruction of primordial, primary, secondary, or cavitary follicles. The ovarian autograft showed good recovery of the macroscopic and microscopic ovarian structure. After autografting, histologic examination revealed primordial to cavitary follicles.


CONCLUSIONS
Freezing of ovarian fragments is possible without damaging the follicles. Ovarian autografts showed good recovery of ovarian structure.
Salle
B
B
Centre d'Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon, France.
Lornage
J
J
Franck
M
M
Isoard
L
L
Rudigoz
R C
RC
Guerin
J F
JF
D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006085:Graft Survival; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012756:Sheep; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous