title: Orthotopic microvascular reanastomosis of whole cryopreserved ovine ovaries resulting in pregnancy and live birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of contralateral autotransplantation of cryopreserved whole ovaries with microanastomosis of the ovarian vascular pedicle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Biomedical Sciences, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine ewes, six month of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparotomic unilateral oophorectomy was performed. Ovaries were frozen using a controlled-rate freezing system. After frozen storage, contralateral laparotomic oophorectomy was performed, and the thawed ovaries were returned to the contralateral orthotopic site with microsurgical vascular anastomosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologic examination and serum follicle-stimulating hormone and progesterone levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four sheep showed postoperative luteal function. One sheep conceived after spontaneous intercourse and delivered a healthy lamb 545 days after transplantation. Histologic examination of the ovaries 18-19 months after transplantation showed that the structural integrity of the ovarian stroma had largely been retained in six out of nine animals. Follicular survival rate in the grafted ovaries was 1.7%-7.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microvascular anastomosis of whole ovaries and orthotopic transplantation after cryopreservation is technically feasible and a promising procedure in ovarian tissue banking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. martin.imhof@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imhof
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergmeister
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipovac
authors.forename: Margaretha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudas
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D050498:Live Birth; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep; D014654:Vascular Patency