title: Influence of follicle stage on artificial ovary outcome using fibrin as a matrix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Do primordial-primary versus secondary follicles embedded inside a fibrin matrix have different capabilities to survive and grow after isolation and transplantation?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mouse primordial-primary follicles showed a lower recovery rate than secondary follicles, but both were able to grow.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Fresh isolated mouse follicles and ovarian stromal cells embedded in a fibrin matrix are capable of surviving and developing after short-term autografting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo experimental model using 11 donor Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice and 11 recipient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Both ovaries from all NMRI mice were mechanically disrupted and primordial-primary and secondary follicles were isolated with ovarian stromal cells. They were then encapsulated in a fibrin matrix composed of 12.5 mg/ml of fibrinogen (F12.5) and 1 IU/ml of thrombin (T1) (F12.5/T1), and grafted to the inner part of the peritoneum of SCID mice for 2 and 7 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the Gynecology Research Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain. All materials were used to conduct histological (H-E staining) and immunohistochemical (Ki67, TUNEL) analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although all grafted fibrin clots were recovered, the follicle recovery rate on day 2 was 16 and 40% for primordial-primary and secondary follicles respectively, while on day 7, it was 6 and 28%. The secondary group showed a significantly higher recovery rate than the primordial-primary group (23%, P-value <0.001). Follicles found in both groups were viable, as demonstrated by live/dead assays, and no difference was observed in the apoptosis rate between groups, as evidenced by TUNEL. Their growth to further stages was confirmed by Ki67 immunostaining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As demonstrated by our results, secondary follicles appear to be more likely to survive and develop than primordial-primary follicles in a fibrin matrix after both periods of grafting. These findings may also be attributed to the specific features of the fibrin matrix, which could benefit larger follicles, but not smaller follicles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is essential to understanding possible impairment caused by factors such as the isolation procedure or fibrin matrix composition to the survival and development of different follicle stages. It therefore provides the basis for further investigations with longer periods of grafting.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study was supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (grant Télévie No. 7.4578.14 and 7.4627.13, grant 5/4/150/5 awarded to Marie-Madeleine Dolmans), Fonds Spéciaux de Recherche, Fondation St Luc, the Foundation Against Cancer, and the Region Wallone (Convention N°6519-OVART) and donations from Mr Pietro Ferrero, Baron Frère and Viscount Philippe de Spoelberch. None of the authors have any competing interests to declare.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte. B1.52.02, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chiti
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte. B1.52.02, 1200 Brussels, Belgium Gynecology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium marie-madeleine.dolmans@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte. B1.52.02, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte. B1.52.02, 1200 Brussels, Belgium Gynecology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte. B1.52.02, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paulini
authors.affiliation: Society for Research into Infertility, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 52, bte. B1.52.02, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Amorim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000379:methods; D005337:Fibrin; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000637:transplantation*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin
keywords: allografting; artificial ovary; fibrin matrix; isolated pre-antral follicles; mouse