title: Both host and graft vessels contribute to revascularization of xenografted human ovarian tissue in a murine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the human ovarian xenograft revascularization process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynecology research unit in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian biopsies were obtained from 12 women aged 22-35 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frozen-thawed human ovarian fragments were intraperitoneally grafted into nude mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Graft perfusion was evaluated by Hoechst 33342 uptake. Murine and human vascularization was analyzed by CD31 and von Willebrand factor double immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 3, some murine neovessels and perfused areas were located at the periphery of the fragments. Nonperfused native human vessels were present in the fragments. From day 5, perfused areas and murine endothelial areas progressively increased. Host angiogenesis initiated ovarian graft reperfusion: murine neovessels penetrated from the periphery and were colocalized with perfused areas. By day 10, the increase in perfusion and murine vascularization was significant. The center of the fragments was perfused and a significant increase was observed in human vasculature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Host and graft vessels contributed sequentially to graft revascularization: murine angiogenesis initiated reperfusion from day 5 and, by day 10, human angiogenesis was shown to participate in graft revascularization. Host and graft angiogenesis are potential targets to reduce the avascular period after grafting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Van Eyck
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouzin
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Feron
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romeu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Langendonckt
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001706:Biopsy; D015925:Cryopreservation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D055815:Young Adult; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride