Is Ovarian Tissue Transport at Supra-zero Temperatures Compared to Body Temperature Optimal for Follicle Survival?

Background/Aim: Transportation of ovarian cortex prior to freezing is used clinically; however, basic investigations of ovarian storage are limited and the question remains what temperature is optimal for transport over long distances and time periods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of follicular loss over various time periods under two different temperatures and assess whether ovarian follicle viability is affected following cryopreservation and thawing subsequent to the transportation of ovarian tissue. Materials and Methods: Pig ovaries were transported at 4°C (n=10) or at 38°C (n=10) prior to cryopreservation. At 0, 4, 12 and 24 h tissues were fixed for histological examination and a LIVE/DEAD Assay. At the same time-points ovarian tissues were cryopreserved and analysed after thawing. Results: Histological evaluation and LIVE/DEAD Assay of freshly transported ovarian tissue showed significantly better follicle survival at 4°C during transportation duration. In cryopreserved ovarian tissues the LIVE/DEAD Assay showed a significant difference in the number of intact and dead follicles at 24 h in favor of 4°C (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ovarian tissue transportation should be kept at a minimum to prevent potential damage.

[1]  J. Donnez,et al.  Techniques for ovarian tissue transplantation and results. , 2018, Minerva ginecologica.

[2]  E. Ernst,et al.  Transplantation of frozen-thawed ovarian tissue: an update on worldwide activity published in peer-reviewed papers and on the Danish cohort , 2018, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.

[3]  H. Igarashi,et al.  A transportation network for human ovarian tissue is indispensable to success for fertility preservation , 2017, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.

[4]  E. Gastal,et al.  Ovarian fragment sizes affect viability and morphology of preantral follicles during storage at 4°C. , 2017, Reproduction.

[5]  P. Humaidan,et al.  86 successful births and 9 ongoing pregnancies worldwide in women transplanted with frozen-thawed ovarian tissue: focus on birth and perinatal outcome in 40 of these children , 2017, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.

[6]  Alexander H. Gunn,et al.  Ovarian tissue transport to expand access to fertility preservation: from animals to clinical practice. , 2016, Reproduction.

[7]  M. Hohl,et al.  Ninety-five orthotopic transplantations in 74 women of ovarian tissue after cytotoxic treatment in a fertility preservation network: tissue activity, pregnancy and delivery rates. , 2016, Human reproduction.

[8]  S. Aviel-Ronen,et al.  Transplantations of frozen-thawed ovarian tissue demonstrate high reproductive performance and the need to revise restrictive criteria. , 2016, Fertility and sterility.

[9]  A. Okamoto,et al.  Investigation of in vitro parameters and fertility of mouse ovary after storage at an optimal temperature and duration for transportation. , 2016, Human reproduction.

[10]  J. Foidart,et al.  Supplementation of transport and freezing media with anti-apoptotic drugs improves ovarian cortex survival , 2016, Journal of Ovarian Research.

[11]  E. Ernst,et al.  Outcomes of transplantations of cryopreserved ovarian tissue to 41 women in Denmark. , 2015, Human reproduction.

[12]  M. Salama,et al.  Emergency fertility preservation for female patients with cancer: clinical perspectives. , 2015, Anticancer research.

[13]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Pregnancies and live births after 20 transplantations of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in a single center. , 2015, Fertility and Sterility.

[14]  J. R. Figueiredo,et al.  Lower apoptosis rate in ovine preantral follicles from ovaries stored in supplemented preservation media , 2015, Zygote.

[15]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Preliminary observations on whole-ovary xenotransplantation as an experimental model for fertility preservation. , 2014, Reproductive biomedicine online.

[16]  G. Griesinger,et al.  Effects of supra-zero storage on human ovarian cortex prior to vitrification-warming. , 2014, Reproductive biomedicine online.

[17]  C. Walter,et al.  Possibilities of fertility preservation in young patients with ovarian cancer. , 2014, Anticancer research.

[18]  L. Shea,et al.  Alginate encapsulation supports the growth and differentiation of human primordial follicles within ovarian cortical tissue , 2014, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.

[19]  Ovarian tissue cryopreservation: a committee opinion. , 2014, Fertility and sterility.

[20]  E. Isachenko,et al.  Increasing Follicular and Stromal Cell Proliferation in Cryopreserved Human Ovarian Tissue after Long-Term Precooling Prior to Freezing: In Vitro versus Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Xenotransplantation , 2013, Cell transplantation.

[21]  E. R. Andrade,et al.  Effect of holding medium, temperature and time on structural integrity of equine ovarian follicles during the non-breeding season. , 2012, Theriogenology.

[22]  L. Shea,et al.  Isolated primate primordial follicles require a rigid physical environment to survive and grow in vitro. , 2012, Human reproduction.

[23]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Live birth after ovarian tissue autotransplantation following overnight transportation before cryopreservation. , 2012, Fertility and sterility.

[24]  A. Saâd,et al.  Examination of viability and quality of ovarian tissue after cryopreservation using simple laboratory methods in ewe , 2011, Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E.

[25]  Hong-ling Yu,et al.  Tissue culture before transplantation of frozen-thawed human fetal ovarian tissue into immunodeficient mice. , 2010, Fertility and sterility.

[26]  S. Báo,et al.  Cryopreservation of swine ovarian tissue: effect of different cryoprotectants on the structural preservation of preantral follicle oocytes. , 2009, Cryobiology.

[27]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Fertility Preservation for Young Female Cancer Patients , 2009 .

[28]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Review. Fertility preservation for young female cancer patients. , 2009, In vivo.

[29]  H. Iro,et al.  Evaluation of ECP release from intact tissue biopsies from patients with nasal polyps , 2008, Inflammation Research.

[30]  C. Coutifaris,et al.  Oncofertility consortium consensus statement: guidelines for ovarian tissue cryopreservation. , 2007, Cancer treatment and research.

[31]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Simple prediction of the survival of follicles in cryopreserved human ovarian tissue. , 2006, The Journal of reproduction and development.

[32]  T. Maltaris,et al.  A simple freezing protocol for the use of an open freezing system for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. , 2006, Cryobiology.

[33]  T. Maltaris,et al.  Comparison of xenografting in SCID mice and LIVE/DEAD assay as a predictor of the developmental potential of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. , 2006, In vivo.

[34]  P. Macdonald,et al.  Organ preservation. , 2006, Methods in molecular biology.

[35]  M. Beckmann,et al.  Development of sex cord stromal tumors after heterotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in rats. , 2005, Anticancer research.

[36]  T. Colgan,et al.  Preliminary experience with subcutaneous human ovarian cortex transplantation in the NOD-SCID mouse. , 1999, Biology of reproduction.