Follicular growth in fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian cortical grafts transplanted to immunodeficient mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate follicle growth in fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian cortical grafts transplanted to immunodeficient mice.


METHODS
Fresh or frozen-thawed human ovarian cortex was grafted subcutaneously or under the kidney capsule of 43 mice (35 nude mice and eight SCID mice), 14 of which were non-stimulated controls, 21 injected intra-peritoneally with gonadotrophins during 2 weeks and eight injected during 3 months. Follicle count was compared by Chi-square.


RESULTS
Proportions of primordial follicles were significantly lower in grafts than in the tissue before transplantation in gonadotrophin-stimulated mice (37% versus 79%), but not in non-stimulated mice (51% versus 74%). Proportions of primary and secondary follicles were increased after transplantation indicating early follicular growth. One antral follicle was observed in a graft in a mouse stimulated for 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Primordial follicles in fresh or frozen-thawed human ovarian cortex transplanted under the kidney capsule or subcutaneously can grow and are responsive to hormonal stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Primordial follicles in fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian cortical grafts can initiate growth after transplantation to immunodeficient mice
Van den Broecke
R
R
Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Infertility Centre, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. josiane.vanderlst@rug.ac.be
Liu
J
J
Handyside
A
A
Van der Elst
J C
JC
Krausz
T
T
Dhont
M
M
Winston
R M
RM
Hovatta
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016513:Mice, SCID; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012867:Skin; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
D008596:Menotropins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone