title: Follicular growth after xenotransplantation of cryopreserved/thawed human ovarian tissue in SCID mice: dynamics and molecular aspects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the influence of xenotransplantation on follicular recruitment and growth in cryopreserved/thawed human ovarian tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two 3-mm pieces of cryopreserved/thawed human ovarian tissue obtained from female cancer patients (n = 11) were xenotransplanted into a subcutaneous neck pouch of 6-week-old ovarectomized SCID mice (n = 33) for 4 (n = 18) and 12 (n = 15) weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two out of 33 mice survived the entire observation periods. Graft recovery rate was 95.58 % (65 of 68 grafts). The percentages of primordial follicles after 4 weeks (P < 0.001) and 12 weeks (P = 0.009) of grafting were significantly lower in comparison to pregraft controls. The percentage of secondary follicle was significantly higher after 4 weeks of grafting (P = 0.018) and after 12 weeks (P = 0.001) of grafting in comparison to pregraft controls. Ki67 immunohistochemistry showed that proliferative follicles were significantly higher after 4 and 12 weeks of grafting compared to pregraft controls (P < 0.001). All follicles analyzed by TUNEL staining appeared healthy after xenotransplantation. The expression level of PTEN was reduced by 2.47-fold after 4 weeks of xenotransplantation, and this result was significant when 2-ΔCtwere analyzed (P = 0.042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher proportion of growing follicles compared to resting follicles observed after xenotransplantation is most likely due to downregulation of PTEN gene expression followed by acceleration of follicular recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Jl. Farmako, 55281, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sarrah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayuandari
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. katharina.winkler@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winkler-Crepaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.|Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paulitsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Cora
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstr. 44, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zavadil
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstr. 44, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manzl
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.|A.R.T. Bogenhausen, Prinzregentenstr. 69, 81675, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ziehr
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wildt
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hofer-Tollinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase
keywords: Fertility preservation; Follicular recruitment; Human ovarian tissue cryopreservation; Human ovarian tissue xenotransplantation; PTEN