title: Immunohistochemical localization of growth factors after cryopreservation and 3 weeks' xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare early follicular growth after fresh and frozen-thawed human ovarian tissue xenografting and to investigate whether expression of c-kit, kit ligand (KL), and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is maintained after freezing and xenografting of human ovarian tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynecology research unit in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten nude (Swiss nu/nu) 6-week-old female mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ovarian biopsy samples were obtained from six women, aged 20 to 30 years. Fresh and frozen-thawed ovarian fragments intraperitoneally grafted into nude mice for 3 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologic analysis and immunohistochemical evaluation of c-kit, KL, and GDF-9 expression before and after grafting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The integrity and proportion of growing follicles increased similarly in both fresh (64%) and frozen-thawed (59%) xenografts compared with non-grafted tissue (fresh: 40%; frozen-thawed: 21%). Both C-kit and KL staining were detected in the oocytes and granulosa cells of preantral follicles, and GDF-9 expression was observed in the oocytes of preantral follicles in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Freezing does not appear to have a major impact on early follicular growth after transplantation. This study shows, for the first time, expression of c-kit, KL, and GDF-9 in human preantral follicles after ovarian tissue cryopreservation and xenotransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Langendonckt
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.forename: Christiani Andrade
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Amorim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins