Cryopreservation

Follicular phase

Cell biology

Biology

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation

Surgery

Transplantation

Endocrinology

Ovarian tissue

Environmental health

Fertility preservation

Xenotransplantation

Embryo

Follicle

Fertility

Population

Internal medicine

Ovarian follicle

Andrology

Medicine

Vitrification

Ovary

Cryobiology

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Two methods for the cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue were compared using a xenotransplantation model to establish a safe and effective cryopreservation method. Ovarian tissues were obtained from women who underwent benign ovarian surgery in the gynecology research unit of a university hospital. The tissues were transplanted into 112 ovariectomized female severe combined immunodeficient mice 4 weeks after slow freezing or vitrification cryopreservation. Tissues were retrieved 4 weeks later. Primordial follicular counts decreased after cryopreservation and xenotransplantation, and were significantly higher in the slow freezing group than in the vitrification group (p &lt; 0.001). Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay showed that the Ki-67 and CD31 markers of follicular proliferation and angiogenesis were higher in the slow freezing group (p &lt; 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively) and DNA damage was greater in the vitrification group (p &lt; 0.001). Western blotting showed that vitrification increased cellular apoptosis. Anti-Müllerian hormone expression was low in transplanted samples subjected to both cryopreservation techniques. Electron microscopy revealed primordial follicle deformation in the vitrification group. Slow freezing for ovarian tissue cryopreservation is superior to vitrification in terms of follicle survival and growth after xenotransplantation. These results will be useful for fertility preservation in female cancer patients.

Comparison between Slow Freezing and Vitrification for Human Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Xenotransplantation