Recurrent spontaneous pregnancies and live births following heterotopic transplantation of frozen banked ovarian tissue despite the absence of follicular activity in the remaining menopausal ovary

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is an important option for preserving the fertility of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this study, we examined the viability and function of oocytes derivedin vitrofrom pre-antral follicles as an alternative method for restoring fertility. Pre-antral follicles (specified as secondary follicle with a diameter around 100–130 μm) were mechanically isolated from vitrified-warmed and fresh adult mouse ovarian tissues and cultured for 12 days followed by an ovulation induction protocol at the end of this period to initiate oocyte maturation. Oocytes were then released from these follicles, fertilizedin vitro, and cultured to the blastocyst stage and vitrified. After storage in liquid nitrogen for 2 weeks, groups of vitrified blastocysts were warmed and transferred into pseudo-pregnant recipient females. Although most of the isolated mouse pre-antral follicles from fresh (79.4%) and vitrified (75.0%) ovarian tissues survived the 12-dayin vitroculture period, significantly fewer mature oocytes developed from vitrified-warmed pre-antral follicles than from the fresh controls (62.2 vs 86.4%,P<0.05). No difference was observed in embryo cleavage rates between these two groups, but the proportion of embryos that developed into blastocysts in the vitrification group was only half that of the controls (24.2 vs 47.2%,P<0.05). Nevertheless, live births of healthy normal pups were achieved after transfer of vitrified blastocysts derived from both experimental groups. This study shows that successful production of healthy offspring using anin vitrofollicle culture system is feasible, and suggests that this procedure could be used in cancer patients who wish to preserve their fertility using ovarian tissue cryopreservation.

Download Full-text

Heterotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in cancer patients: a case series

Gynecological Endocrinology ◽

10.1080/09513590.2019.1648413 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (12) ◽

pp. 1043-1049 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olga Bystrova ◽

Elena Lapina ◽

Alla Kalugina ◽

Alla Lisyanskaya ◽

Natalya Tapilskaya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Case Series ◽

Heterotopic Transplantation ◽

Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue

Download Full-text

Autologous heterotopic transplantation of ovarian tissue in sheep

Fertility and Sterility ◽

10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.07.958 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 501-503 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Dominik Denschlag ◽

Christine Knobloch ◽

Andrea Kockrow ◽

Anna Baessler ◽

Heike Goebel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Heterotopic Transplantation

Download Full-text

Embryo development after heterotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(04)15728-0 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 363 (9412) ◽

pp. 837-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 382

Author(s):

Kutluk Oktay ◽

Erkan Buyuk ◽

Lucinda Veeck ◽

Nikica Zaninovic ◽

Kangpu Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Embryo Development ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Heterotopic Transplantation ◽

Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue

Download Full-text

Ovarian tissue transport to expand access to fertility preservation: from animals to clinical practice

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-15-0598 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 152 (6) ◽

pp. R201-R210 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Francesca E Duncan ◽

Mary Zelinski ◽

Alexander H Gunn ◽

Jennifer E Pahnke ◽

Conor L O’Neill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Fertility Preservation ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Reproductive Potential ◽

Endocrine Function ◽

Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation ◽

Cold Temperatures ◽

Primordial Follicles ◽

Live Births ◽

Reproductive Life

Primordial follicles dictate a female’s reproductive life span and therefore are central to fertility preservation for both endangered species and individuals with fertility-threatening conditions. Ovarian tissue containing primordial follicles can be cryopreserved and later thawed and transplanted back into individuals to restore both endocrine function and fertility. Importantly, increasing numbers of human live births have been reported following ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation. A current limitation of this technology is patient access to sites that are approved or equipped to process and cryopreserve ovarian tissue – especially in larger countries or low resource settings. Here, we review empirical evidence from both animal models and human studies that suggest that ovarian tissue can be transported at cold temperatures for several hours while still maintaining the integrity and reproductive potential of the primordial follicles within the tissue. In fact, several human live births have been reported in European countries using tissue that was transported at cold temperatures for up to 20 h before cryopreservation and transplantation. Ovarian tissue transport, if implemented widely in clinical practice, could therefore expand both patient and provider access to emerging fertility preservation options.

Download Full-text

Embryo Development After Heterotopic Transplantation of Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue

Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey ◽

10.1097/00006254-200407000-00018 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 59 (7) ◽

pp. 520-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kutluk Oktay ◽

Erkan Buyuk ◽

Lucinda Veeck ◽

Nikica Zaninovic ◽

Kangpu Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Embryo Development ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Heterotopic Transplantation ◽

Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue

Download Full-text

FOLLICULAR AND LUTEAL FUNCTION IN THE PUBERAL RAT: GONADOTROPHIC HORMONE STIMULATION AND ENZYMIC-NUCLEOTIDE INTERACTIONS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0780135 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 135-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

JoAnne S. (Hunter) Richards

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Follicular Development ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Lh Surge ◽

Luteal Function ◽

Nucleotide Interactions ◽

Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽

Increased Activity ◽

Stimulation Of ◽

Follicular Activity

ABSTRACT Using the puberal rat and the PMS-treated rat as animal systems, ovarian events associated with follicular and luteal development have been characterized by measuring gonadotrophic hormone (LH, FSH and prolactin) and progesterone concentrations in peripheral serum; and selected enzymic (NAD-kinase:NAD-K and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: G6PD) activities and nucleotide (NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH, ATP) concentrations in ovarian tissue. In the puberal rat, the period of follicular development was characterized by increased ovarian NAD-K SA, NAD and NADH concentrations and decreased ATP and NADP concentrations. The first pro-oestrus was characterized by greatly elevated LH, FSH, prolactin and progesterone concentrations, significant decreases in ovarian NAD-K SA, NAD, NADP and ATP concentrations, and an increase in NADPH concentrations. The development of new corpora lutea was associated with striking increases in ovarian NAD-K SA and G6PD SA. Increased activity of both enzymes exhibited a significant positive coefficient of correlation with the number of corpora lutea contained within the ovarian tissue. PMS (4 IU) stimulation of follicular activity resulted in events leading to the induction of an endogenous LH surge and ovulation. Associated with increased follicular activity was increased ovarian NAD-K SA. In contrast to the puberal rat, no rise in progesterone concentrations was associated with the LH surge or the formation of corpora lutea.

Download Full-text