Xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue pieces in gonadotropin-stimulated SCID mice: the effect of ovariectomy
Maltaris, T.; Koelbl, H.; Fischl, F.; Seufert, R.; Schmidt, M.; Kohl, J.; Beckmann, M.W.; Binder, H.; Hoffmann, I.; Mueller, A.; Dittrich, R.
Anticancer Research 26(6b): 4171-4176
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 17201129 Document Number: 604187
The number of follicles were compared in different developmental stages after the cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue by open freezing system followed by xenotransplantation into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)-mice under stimulation, with and without ovariectomy. Ovarian tissue, cryopreserved for fertility preservation was partly examined by LIVE/DEAD viability staining or was transplanted in the neck muscle of 32 SCID-mice. The development of follicles, estradiol production, vaginal cytology and uterus weight was assessed after 15 weeks under gonadotropin stimulation, with or without ovariectomy. Viable follicles were detected in all frozen/thawed specimens using the LIVE/DEAD assay. Ovariectomy caused a significant improvement of survival of follicles in the preantral and antral stages in the gonadotropin-stimulated animals (p < 0.001), whereas there was no significant effect on the primordial and primary follicle counts. In the non-ovariectomised group, only isolated primordial and primary follicles could be detected. The total follicle amount was significantly higher in the ovariectomised group (n=17, 9.2 +/- 7.8, mean +/-SD) than in the non-ovariectomized group (n=15, 0.3 +/- 1.0). This study demonstrates that ovariectomy of stimulated recipient SCID-mice is essential for the development of follicles after xenotransplantation of cryopreserved human ovarian grafts.