Ovarian function, tubal viability and pregnancy after tubo-ovarian transplantation in the rabbit

Previously, transplantation of ovaries from young cycling mice into old postreproductive-age mice increased life span. We anticipated that the same factors that increased life span could also influence health span. Female CBA/J mice received new (60 d) ovaries at 12 and 17 months of age and were evaluated at 16 and 25 months of age, respectively. There were no significant differences in body weight among any age or treatment group. The percentage of fat mass was significantly increased at 13 and 16 months of age but was reduced by ovarian transplantation in 16-month-old mice. The percentages of lean body mass and total body water were significantly reduced in 13-month-old control mice but were restored in 16- and 25-month-old recipient mice by ovarian transplantation to the levels found in six-month-old control mice. In summary, we have shown that skeletal muscle mass, which is negatively influenced by aging, can be positively influenced or restored by reestablishment of active ovarian function in aged female mice. These findings provide strong incentive for further investigation of the positive influence of young ovaries on restoration of health in postreproductive females.

Download Full-text

Restoration of immune and renal function in aged females by re-establishment of active ovarian function

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd16333 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (10) ◽

pp. 2052 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Rhett L. Peterson ◽

Kate C. Parkinson ◽

Jeffrey B. Mason

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Cell Subset ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Immune Functioning ◽

Control Female ◽

Ovarian Transplantation ◽

Gonadal Dysfunction ◽

Age Related ◽

Old Mice

Proper immune functioning is necessary to maximize reproductive success. In addition, age-associated uremia in women is often associated with hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal dysfunction. In the present experiments, we tested immune and renal function to determine if exposure of postreproductive mice to young, reproductively cycling ovaries would influence non-reproductive physiological functions. Control female CBA/J mice were evaluated at 6, 13 and 16 months of age. Additional mice received new (60-day-old) ovaries at 12 months of age and were evaluated at 16 months of age. Consequently, 6-month-old control mice and 16-month-old recipient mice both possessed 6-month-old ovaries and were reproductively cycling. A significant age-related decline in immune function (T-cell subset analysis) was found in 16-month-old mice, but was improved 64% by ovarian transplantation. Renal function (blood urea nitrogen : creatinine ratio) was also decreased with aging, but ovarian transplantation restored function to levels found in 6-month-old mice. In summary, we have shown that immune and renal function, which are negatively influenced by aging, can be positively influenced or restored by re-establishment of active ovarian function in aged female mice. These findings provide a strong incentive for further investigation of the positive influence of young ovaries on restoration of health in postreproductive females.

Download Full-text

Resumption of ovarian function in a patient with premature ovarian failure (pof) after human fresh, heterologous, heterotopic ovarian transplantation

Fertility and Sterility ◽

10.1016/s0015-0282(02)04008-6 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 78 ◽

pp. S216 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura Kanzepolsky ◽

Judith Notrica ◽

Fernando Neuspiller ◽

Ester Polak de Fried

Keyword(s):

Premature Ovarian Failure ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Ovarian Failure ◽

Ovarian Transplantation

Download Full-text

Distinct effects of ovarian transplantation and exogenous 17 β-oestradiol on cancellous bone of osteopenic ovariectomized rats

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje.0.1330483 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 133 (4) ◽

pp. 483-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Andrea C Gallagher ◽

Timothy J Chambers ◽

Jonathan H Tobias

Keyword(s):

Bone Loss ◽

Bone Metabolism ◽

Cancellous Bone ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Bone Volume ◽

Female Rats ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Ovarian Transplantation ◽

Ovx Rats

Gallagher AC, Chambers TJ, Tobias JH. Distinct effects of ovarian transplantation and exogenous 17 β-oestradiol on cancellous bone of osteopenic ovariectomized rats. Eur J Endocrinol 1995;133:483–8. ISSN 0804–4643 Although 17 β-oestradiol (E2) is known to prevent bone loss, prolonged administration of E2 is unable to reverse this in female rats rendered osteopenic by ovariectomy. To determine whether this reflects a failure to replace other components of ovarian function involved in bone metabolism, we compared the effects of administering E2 to osteopenic ovariectomized (ovx) rats with those of ovarian transplantation. Ovariectomy was performed in female rats. After 13 weeks, by which time marked bone loss had occurred, one group of ovx animals received ovaries from donor rats, and, after a delay of 2 weeks to allow oestrus cycles to return, a further group received E2 5 μg · kg−1 · day−1 for 9 weeks. The dose of E2 was chosen as that which in preliminary studies restored mean serum E2 levels to that of intact female rats. The study was terminated 24 weeks after ovariectomy. Both E2 and ovarian transplantation largely restored indices of oestrogenic exposure in ovx rats to those of sham-ovx animals. Animals receiving ovarian transplants also showed a small increase in serum progesterone and full restoration of serum testosterone. However, while ovarian transplantation also returned indices of cancellous bone metabolism to those of sham-ovx animals, there was little increase in bone volume. Interestingly, exogenous E2 caused a greater increase in cancellous bone volume than ovarian transplantation but also caused more marked suppression of bone formation, as assessed at the end of the study. In conclusion, exogenous E2 and ovarian transplantation exerted distinct effects on skeletal metabolism in osteopenic ovx rats, although the basis for this difference is currently unclear. JH Tobias, Department of Histopathology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 ORE, UK

Download Full-text

Limited Value of Ovarian Function Markers following Orthotopic Transplantation of Ovarian Tissue after Gonadotoxic Treatment

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jc.2010-2188 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 1136-1144 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Femi Janse ◽

Jacques Donnez ◽

Ellen Anckaert ◽

Frank H. de Jong ◽

Bart C. J. M. Fauser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Reserve ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Graft Function ◽

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ◽

Inhibin B ◽

University Hospital ◽

Ovarian Insufficiency ◽

Orthotopic Transplantation ◽

Ovarian Transplantation

Abstract Context: In young women, some treatments for cancer or other conditions (such as sickle cell anemia) may give rise to primary ovarian insufficiency. Ovarian transplantation is one of the available options for fertility preservation, with highly variable pregnancy rates. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate markers of ovarian reserve and ovarian function in women up to 7 yr after orthotopic ovarian transplantation. Secondary objectives were to assess the relationship between markers of ovarian reserve and pregnancy rate along with the duration of ovarian function. Design: This was a prospective cohort study in 10 women, with a mean follow-up of 2.5 yr. Setting: The study was conducted at a university hospital in Brussels, Belgium. Patients: Patients included 10 women who were about to receive or had previously received gonadotoxic treatment. In seven women cryopreservation of ovarian tissue was performed before starting treatment. Subsequently autografts were orthotopically transplanted in these women. Three women, who had already developed primary ovarian insufficiency due to treatment, underwent orthotopic transplantation of ovarian allograft tissue originating from their human leukocyte antigen-compatible sisters. Main Outcome Measures: Serum concentrations of FSH, LH, estradiol, inhibin B, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were measured. Results: On average, first menses took place after 4.7 months. Duration of graft functioning varied from 2 to more than 60 months. FSH concentrations remained elevated, whereas estradiol levels normalized and AMH was low to undetectable. Inhibin B varied among women and was not associated with the duration of ovarian function (hazard ratio 0.966, 95% confidence interval 0.881–1.059). Two spontaneous pregnancies occurred. Endocrine characteristics were not significantly different in these women. Conclusions: Low AMH and inhibin B concentrations may suggest decreased ovarian reserve in women after ovarian transplantation. AMH and inhibin B levels may not be associated with the duration of ovarian graft function or probability to achieve a pregnancy.

Download Full-text

The effects of ovarian transplantation on bone loss in ovariectomized rats

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1420187 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 142 (1) ◽

pp. 187-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J H Tobias ◽

T J Chambers ◽

A Gallagher

Keyword(s):

Bone Loss ◽

Cancellous Bone ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Hormone Replacement ◽

Bone Volume ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Vaginal Smears ◽

Trabecular Thickness ◽

Ovarian Transplantation ◽

Trabecular Number

Abstract Although hormone replacement therapy can prevent postmenopausal bone loss, it does not restore bone mass to normal in patients with established osteoporosis. This might reflect a failure to reproduce certain aspects of gonadal function. One method of investigating this possibility would be to examine the effect of ovarian transplantation on the skeleton of osteopaenic ovariectomized rats. However, ovarian transplantation may not fully restore ovarian function to normal, and it is not known whether transplanted ovaries reproduce the action of native ovaries on the skeleton. Therefore, we investigated whether renal capsular or subcutaneous ovarian transplants prevent the effects of ovariectomy on histomorphometric indices of rat tibiae over 44 days. Daily vaginal smears showed that oestrous cycles returned in all but two of 25 animals receiving ovarian transplants. We found that ovarian transplantation prevented the reduction in cancellous bone volume following ovariectomy. While trabecular number was reduced in ovariectomized animals receiving renal capsular ovarian transplants compared to intact animals, trabecular thickness was increased in both transplant groups. Ovarian transplantation also prevented the increase in cancellous and cortical bone formation, cancellous bone resorption and longitudinal growth rate caused by ovariectomy. We conclude that restoration of ovarian function by ovarian transplantation largely prevents the effects of ovariectomy on histomorphometric indices of rat tibiae, suggesting that transplanted ovaries can substitute for the action of native ovaries on the skeleton. Journal of Endocrinology (1994) 142, 187–192

Download Full-text