Korean J Fertil Steril.  1999 Aug;26(2):219-223.

Ovarian Development of Vitrified Neonatal Ovaries after Orthotopic Transplantation into Adult Recipients

• Lee KA
• Lee SH
• Yoon SJ
• Ko JJ
• Cha KY

Abstract

Ovarian development of the vitrified neonatal ovaries after orthotopical transplantation into the ovariectomized adult recipient mouse were observed. Ovaries were collected from the neonatal females on day of birth and grouped for fresh, vitrification for 1-minute, and 3-minute. Vitrified and thawed neonatal ovaries were orthotopically transplanted into ovarian bursa of the adult mice from which endogenous ovaries have removed just prior to the transplantation (1 minute: n=25; 3 minutes n=23). Fresh ovarian tissue transplanted (n=25) mice were included as control groups. Returning of the estrus cycles and the survival and development of the transplanted ovaries were evaluated. Intact ovaries from neonatal, and four weeks old mice were used for comparison of the ovarian development as in vivo-developed control. From 2 weeks after transplantation, 64%, 36%, and 75% of the transplanted mice showed return of the estrus cycles in fresh, 1-minute, and 3-minute groups, respectively. Four weeks after transplantation, all mice were sacrificed and ovarian tissues were recovered for histological analysis. 57.1%, 33.3%, and 64.7% mice in fresh, 1-minute, and 3-minute groups, respectively, had survived ovaries with follicles at various stages of growth from primordial to preovulatory follicles. Corpus lutea were also observed. Results of the present study suggest that 1) normal folliculogenesis has initiated in vivo after vitrification, and 2) the vitrification may be used as a preservation method for ovarian tissues for establishment of ovarian tissue bank.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Animals
Estrus
Female
Humans
Mice
Ovary*
Parturition
Tissue Banks
Vitrification