Follicle development in grafted mouse ovaries after cryopreservation and subcutaneous transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the impact of freezing, thawing, and subcutaneous transplantation on follicular development in grafted mouse ovaries.


METHODS
The mice were divided into 3 groups: control (group 1), frozen-thawed grafting (group 2), and frozen-thawed grafting with human menopausal gonadotropin injection (group 3). After freezing and thawing, the ovaries were transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue. Two weeks after transplantation, grafted ovaries and blood samples were collected.


RESULTS
Ovaries from group 3 contained significantly more follicles (246 +/- 43 follicles) than group 2(P <.05). The pattern and intensity of Cx37 immunohistochemical staining was similar in all groups. Follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations were significantly decreased in group 2 after ovarian grafting.


CONCLUSIONS
In mice, gonadotropin treatment before subcutaneous grafting improved the survival of growing follicles. Subcutaneous ovarian transplantation may restore ovarian function and could obviate many of the problems that are related to ovarian banking for humans.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA. hongbo99@leland.stanford.edu
Hongbo
H
Wang
Stephen
S
Mooney
Yan
Y
Wen
Barry
B
Behr
Mary Lake
ML
Polan
D000818:Animals; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
D017630:Connexins; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006062:Gonadotropins; D011374:Progesterone; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein