title: Difficulties improving ovarian functional recovery by microvascular transplantation and whole ovary vitrification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate recovery of endocrine function and fertility after transplantation and vitrification of whole ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lyon Veterinary School, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ewes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In group 1 (n = 5), the left ovary was removed with its vascular pedicle and was transplanted onto the contralateral pedicle. In group 2 (n = 5), the left ovary with its pedicle was cryopreserved after a vitrification procedure. After thawing, transplantation was performed by microvascular anastomosis to the contralateral ovarian pedicle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Median ischemia time, progesterone levels, histologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful microsurgical transplantation was performed in both groups. The median ischemia time was statistically significantly longer in group 2 (287 minutes, range: 226 to 349] versus 129 minutes [range: 125 to 130]) in group 1. In group 1, four sheep recovered spontaneous ovarian endocrine function about 2.5 (range: 2.00 to 3.75) months after transplantation. Two ewes gave healthy live births at 12 and 25 months, respectively, after transplantation. In group 2, one ewe recovered ovarian endocrine function 6 months after transplantation. However, histologic evaluation showed a follicular survival rate of 6% in group 1, and total follicle loss in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autograft of whole sheep ovaries with microvascular anastomosis seems technically feasible but resulted in a very poor follicle survival rate (6%), in spite of endocrine function recovery and birth of two lambs. Attempts at cryopreservation with vitrification resulted in no follicle survival at all.
authors.affiliation: Unité INSERM 846, Institut Cellule Souche et Cerveau, Bron, France.
authors.forename: Blandine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Courbiere
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caquant
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazoyer
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lornage
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salle
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008833:Microcirculation; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012756:Sheep; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery