Preliminary experience with subcutaneous human ovarian cortex transplantation in the NOD-SCID mouse

Xenogeneic transplantation of ovarian cortex into an immunodeficient animal host may be an approach toward fertility preservation for young female pat ients undergoing cancer therapy. Our objective was to evaluate the developm ent of follicles in human ovarian cortex placed s.c. in non-obese diabetic- severe combined immune deficiency (NOD-SCID) mice (n = 54), The following v ariables were compared: 1) male versus female mice as hosts, 2) intact vers us pituitary down-regulated mice, and 3) warm versus cold tissue transport. After 2 wk, 37 of 50 (74%) of the human xenografts contained follicles. At 12 wk after transplantation, exogenous gonadotropin stimulation resulted i n follicle growth in 19 of 37 (51%) of the grafts, including the developmen t of antral follicles, which could be palpated and visualized through the m ouse skin, Significantly more developing follicles were identified in male versus female mice (13 of 17 vs. 6 of 20, respectively; p = 0.013) after st imulation. No difference was found between intact and pituitary down-regula ted mice as hosts. Follicular survival was significantly increased by warm versus cold tissue transport. Our results suggest that s.c. ovarian cortex xenografting into NOD-SCID mice is feasible. Primordial follicles in ovaria n xenografts retain their developmental potential and form antral follicles following gonadotropin stimulation.