title: In vitro development of human primordial follicles to preantral stage after vitrification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to culture primordial follicles in vitro to reach preantral stage in vitrified human ovarian tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian tissue samples were obtained from six women. Tissue strips were vitrified by infiltration with a cryoprotectant followed by mounting on a stainless steel carrier. After culturing for 7 days the morphology and developmental stages of follicles enclosed in fresh and vitrified groups were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High proportion of viable follicles in vitrified ovarian strips was obtained. After culturing for 7 days the percentage of secondary and preantral follicles increased significantly (P < 0.05) whereas primordial and transitory follicles showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) compared to their respective counterparts at day 0 of culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitrification of ovarian strips with an improved carrier device and culturing of follicles in ovarian strips after warming yielded developed follicles with high viability and morphological integrity that may be suitable for use in fertility preservation among cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moini
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abolhassani
authors.forename: Mojtaba R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Valojerdi
authors.forename: Frederick W K
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Kan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D058989:Vitrification