title: Autologous heterotopic transplantation of intact rabbit ovary after frozen banking at -196 degrees C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficiency of intact ovary after cryopreservation and transplantation in a rabbit model for limited longevity by revascularization ischemia after implantation of frozen-thawed ovarian tissue. Transplantation of an intact frozen ovary with microvascular anastomos has been shown to be feasible with modern cryobiology and microsurgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve 5-month-old mature female New Zealand White rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  After bilateral oophorectomy with one ovary saved as a control in formalin-fixed and hematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin sections, the contralateral intact ovary was used for autologous heterotopic transplantation after freezing and thawing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Density of primordial follicles 6 months after transplantation was measured. Hormone levels and vaginal cytology were followed throughout the oophorectomy and transplantation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of 12 rabbits had restored ovarian function 1 week after transplantation of their intact cryopreserved ovary. At the 6-month posttransplantation follow-up, mean primordial follicle density was statistically significantly lower in the experimental than in the control ovaries (13.99 +/- 3.21 vs. 18.68 +/- 3.86 per high-power field). The remaining two rabbits, which had cracked mesentery fat adjacent to the ovary after thawing, never regained ovarian function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With microsurgery, cryopreservation of an intact rabbit ovary followed by autologous transplantation may overcome revascularization-associated ischemia to save primordial follicles and attain reasonable graft longevity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. chihuangndmc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Chi-Huang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shyi-Gen
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gwo-Jang
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jaang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jah-Yao
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D011817:Rabbits; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014015:Tissue Banks; D014022:Tissue Survival; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones