title: Simple prediction of the survival of follicles in cryopreserved human ovarian tissue.
abstract: This study examines the possible predictive value of the LIVE/DEAD fluorescence viability assay for evaluation of survival of cryopreserved human ovarian tissue. Ovarian tissue from ten patients was examined by LIVE/DEAD viability staining before and after cryopreservation and after freezing in a -20 C freezer (negative control). After cryopreservation with a slow freezing protocol and cryoprotectant the LIVE/DEAD assay showed 86% viable follicles (an intact oocyte and at least more than 50% of the granulosa cells alive), whereas after freezing at -20 C the survival rate was 67%. The healthy follicular loss after cryopreservation was 4%, whereas with freezing at -20 C, it was 25%. Although this assay overestimates the survival rate of cryopreserved primordial follicles, if the LIVE/DEAD assay yields greater than approximately 85% viable follicles, it can be assumed that the follicles in the cryopreserved tissue have maintained their developmental potential and that the tissue is suitable for retransplantation.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Germany.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maltaris
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dragonas
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Matthias W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dittrich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents