title: Reducing ischaemic damage in rodent ovarian xenografts transplanted into granulation tissue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anti-cancer therapies frequently lead to ovarian damage and impaired fertility. To preserve fertility, cryopreservation and subsequent transplantation of the ovaries have been suggested. One of the challenges in ovarian graft transplantation is overcoming the initial ischaemic damage that depletes a significant fraction of the oocyte pool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follicular survival in ovarian grafts was examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence microscopy in a model system in which rat ovaries were transplanted into nude mice. Transplantation into angiogenic granulation tissue created during wound healing shortened the ischaemic period by 24 h and significantly increased the pool of healthy primordial follicles and the perfused area of the transplanted grafts. Functional blood vessels were detected within the grafts as early as 2 days after transplantation. Gain of function was demonstrated both by growth of the grafts and by the hormonal influence on the host uteri.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implantation of ovarian grafts into an angiogenic granulation tissue improved graft vascularization and follicular survival. This procedure/treatment may be used for reducing the ischaemic damage in ovarian transplants, thus prolonging graft functionality and increasing the yield of oocytes that can be easily recovered for fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Tomer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Israely
authors.forename: Nava
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nevo
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harmelin
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neeman
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsafriri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous