title: Evaluation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from prepubertal patients after long-term xenografting and exogenous stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess follicular development after long-term xenotransplantation and exogenous stimulation of cryopreserved prepubertal ovarian tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynecology research unit in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cryopreserved ovarian fragments were obtained from five prepubertal patients aged 7.2-12.2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Xenografting of frozen-thawed prepubertal ovarian fragments to SCID mice for 5 months and exogenous stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follicular density, morphology, proliferation, development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follicular density varied between 1.05 and 47.89 follicles/mm(2) in frozen-thawed ovarian tissue and 0.48 and 32.74 follicles/mm(2) in grafted prepubertal ovarian tissue. Growing follicles at the last stage of follicular development were observed at significantly higher proportions after grafting. No statistical difference was evidenced in the number of primordial follicles, representing the largest proportion of the follicle pool (99.51% before grafting and 92.46% after grafting). Ki67 and antimüllerian hormone expression were observed in these growing follicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first description of transplantation of human cryopreserved prepubertal ovarian tissue to mice, demonstrating that a very high number of follicles survive after transplantation and a large pool of primordial follicles remains dormant. Growing follicles were observed, proving the responsiveness of prepubertal ovarian tissue to gonadotropins.
authors: Université Catholique de Louvain, Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Brussels, Belgium; Service de Gynécologie, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Luyckx
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Scalercio
authors: Pascale
authors: P
authors: Jadoul
authors: Christiani Andrade
authors: CA
authors: Amorim
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Soares
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Donnez
authors: Marie-Madeleine
authors: MM
authors: Dolmans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008596:Menotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008596:Menotropins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
keywords: Fertility preservation; cryopreserved ovarian tissue; ovarian tissue transplantation; prepubertal patients; xenografting