title: Cryopreservation of whole bovine ovaries: comparisons of different thawing protocols.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to perform a comparative investigation of several different thawing protocols and to determine an appropriate protocol for thawing whole bovine frozen ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bovine ovaries were slowly frozen and then thawed by applying different protocols. Ultrastructural change, follicle viability, and the hormone levels of culture supernatant were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles and the hormone levels of culture supernatant in group D (two-step, thawing in water at 39°C) were significantly higher than those in any other group. Moreover, the ultrastructural alteration of oocyte in group D (two-step, thawing in water at 39°C) was slighter than those in any other group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two-step protocol involving short-term exposure to water at a moderately high temperature (39°C) proved to be a suitable for thawing bovine whole ovaries.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Hospital for Maternity and Child Care of Linyi City, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Nursing department, People's Hospital of Linyi City, China.
authors.forename: Zong-Peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, People's Hospital of Laiwu City, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, People's Hospital of Laiwu City, China.
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine, People's Hospital of Laiwu City, China. Electronic address: zjmlwsz@sina.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D010053:Ovary
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Bovine; Cryopreservation; Thaw; Whole ovaries