title: Heterotopic ovarian transplantation without vascular pedicle in syngeneic Lewis rats: long-term evaluation of effects on ovarian structure and function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-term efficacy of intraperitoneal (IP) and subcutaneous (SC) ovarian autotransplantation in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unit of Experimental Research, Barcelona University School of Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female syngeneic Lewis rats aged 14 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group A, control group undergoing ovariectomy (n = 15); group B, undergoing ovariectomy and IP autologous heterotopic transplant (n = 15); and group C, ovariectomized with SC autologous heterotopic transplant (n = 15). In groups B and C, five animals were killed and their ovaries removed for morphometric analysis at 30 days after transplantation; five additional animals were killed at 180 days, and the remaining five animals were killed at 360 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian morphometric analysis and serial measurement of E(2) and FSH serum levels. RESULT(S); The mean number of antral follicles in the control group A was significantly higher than that observed in the ovarian grafts collected and examined 30 days after grafting in rats from groups B and C, but the mean granulosa cell area was significantly higher in both transplantation groups than in controls because of ovarian follicular hyperplasia. Histological examination of ovaries removed at 6 and 12 months after grafting in groups B and C showed increasing degrees of fibrosis, loss of primordial follicles, and the presence of epithelial cysts. In groups B and C, from day 30 after surgery onward, serum E(2) was significantly higher and FSH significantly lower, respectively, than in group A. E(2) and FSH patterns in groups B and C were similar throughout the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heterotopic ovarian transplantation without vascular pedicle in rats is characterized by follicular hyperplasia endocrinologically functional, followed by progressive loss of follicles in heterotopic ovarian autografts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, 08950-Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain. jcallejo@medicine.ub.es
authors.forename: Justo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callejo
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vilaseca
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ordi
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabré
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lailla
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balasch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone