title: Ovarian Grafts 10 Days after Xenotransplantation: Folliculogenesis and Recovery of Viable Oocytes.
abstract: Ovarian xenotransplantation is a promising alternative to preserve fertility of oncologic patients. However, several functional aspects of this procedure remained to be addressed. The aim of this study was evaluate the feasibility of xenotransplantation as a strategy to maintain bovine ovarian grafts and produce oocytes. Adult ovarian cortical pieces were xenotransplanted to the dorsal subcutaneous of female NOD-SCID mice (n = 62). Grafts were recovered ten days after xenotransplantation. Host and graft weights; folliculogenesis progression; blood perfusion, relative gene expression and number of macrophage and neutrophil of xenografts; in vitro developmental competence of graft-derived oocytes were evaluated. Folliculogenesis was supported in the grafts, as indicated by the presence of primordial, primary, secondary, antral, and atretic follicles. The xenografts showed a greater volumetric density of atretic follicles and higher hyperemia and number of host-derived macrophage and neutrophil (P<0.05), when compared to non-grafted fragments. There was a higher blood perfusion under the back skin in the transplantation sites of host animals than in control and non-grafted (P<0.01). BAX and PRDX1 genes were up-regulated, while BCL2, FSHR, IGF1R and IGF2R were down-regulated, when compared to the control (P<0.01). Twenty seven oocytes were successfully harvested from grafts, and some of these oocytes were able to give rise to blastocysts after in vitro fertilization. However, cleavage and blastocyst rates of xenograft derived oocytes were lower than in control (P<0.01). Despite showing some functional modifications, the ovarian xenografts were able to support folliculogenesis and produce functional oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Fertility Preservation Research Group, Department of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Sao Joao Del Rei, Sao Joao Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36301-160.
authors.forename: Paulo Henrique Almeida
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Campos-Junior
authors.affiliation: Fertility Preservation Research Group, Department of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Sao Joao Del Rei, Sao Joao Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36301-160.
authors.forename: Thalys Jair Melo
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Fertility Preservation Research Group, Department of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Sao Joao Del Rei, Sao Joao Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36301-160.
authors.forename: Marco Tulio
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36036-900.
authors.forename: Carolina Marinho
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Assunçao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36036-900.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 31270-901.
authors.forename: Matheus Silvério
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 31270-901.
authors.forename: Lucas Rocha
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 31270-901.
authors.forename: Brígida Gomes
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 31270-901.
authors.forename: Remo Castro
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 31270-901.
authors.forename: Lucíola
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barcelos
authors.affiliation: Embrapa, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36038-330.
authors.forename: Luiz Sérgio Almeida
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Embrapa, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil, 70770-917.
authors.forename: Joao Henrique Moreira
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Viana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D054464:Peroxiredoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D054464:Peroxiredoxins