Improving posttransplantation survival of human ovarian tissue by treating the host and graft.
OBJECTIVE
To improve posttransplantation survival of frozen-thawed human ovarian tissue in immunodeficient mice.


METHODS
Histologic study of transplanted human ovaries after treating the host and graft.


METHODS
Infertility unit, university-affiliated tertiary medical center.


METHODS
Ovarian tissue from six girls/women (aged 5-23 years) who had undergone ovarian laparoscopy for fertility preservation.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Thawed ovarian samples were transplanted into the back muscle of immunodeficient mice divided into four groups: A) no treatment; B) host treatment with vitamin E and gonadotropins before and after grafting; C) graft incubation with vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and vitamin E before transplantation; and D) host as in B, graft as in C. Ungrafted thawed samples served as control. Assessment of graft survival was conducted by follicle counts, apoptosis evaluation, immunohistochemical stainings for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and VEGF-A expression.


RESULTS
Only grafts incubated before transplantation (groups C and D) retained their original size. Follicle number was low in all grafts. PCNA expression was found in most grafts. Apoptosis was significantly lower in the untreated and treated grafts transplanted into treated hosts (groups B and D) than in ungrafted-thawed samples and group A grafts. All grafted groups had significantly higher expression of VEGF-A than ungrafted-thawed samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Survival of transplanted human ovarian tissue may be improved by treatment of the host and graft. Further studies to evaluate treatments with a potential benefit in human ovarian autotransplantation are needed.
Abir
Ronit
R
Infertility and IVF Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel. ronita@clalit.org.il
Fisch
Benjamin
B
Jessel
Shlomit
S
Felz
Carmela
C
Ben-Haroush
Avi
A
Orvieto
Raoul
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D058507:Host Specificity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D014022:Tissue Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055815:Young Adult
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A