title: Impact of freezing and thawing of human ovarian tissue on follicular growth after long-term xenotransplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess follicular growth after xenografting in order to understand how freezing and/or grafting may affect follicular development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human ovarian biopsies were used for fresh and frozen-thawed xenografting to SCID mice. After xenotransplantation, follicular morphology and proportion, oocyte and follicle diameter, and quantitative and qualitative parameters of antral follicles were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of growing follicles was significantly higher in grafted than non-grafted ovarian tissue. Follicular growth to the antral stage was observed and there was no significant difference in oocyte or follicle diameter in fresh or frozen-thawed grafts. Although no significant difference was observed in antral area or zona pellucida thickness, the theca layer in antral follicles from frozen-thawed grafted tissue was found to be significantly thinner than in fresh grafts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antral follicles obtained after grafting of frozen-thawed human ovarian tissue showed a thinner theca cell layer compared to those from fresh grafts, which could affect follicular development and function. Further studies are nevertheless warranted to confirm the identity of theca cells and assess if they retain the ability to respond to luteinizing hormone and produce androgens.
authors: Department of Gynecology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Brussels, 1200, Belgium.
authors: Christiani A
authors: CA
authors: Amorim
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: David
authors: Marie-Madeleine
authors: MM
authors: Dolmans
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Camboni
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Donnez
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Van Langendonckt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009865:Oocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D010053:Ovary; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous