B. Salle et al., Restoration of ovarian steroid secretion and histologic assessment after freezing, thawing, and autograft of a hemi-ovary in sheep, FERT STERIL, 72(2), 1999, pp. 366-370
Objective: To evaluate the effects of freezing, thawing, and autograft of a
hemi-ovary on steroid secretion, endometrial maturation, and ovarian histo
logy in ewes.
Design: Experimental animal study.
Setting: Laboratoire de Zootechnie, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire, Marcy l'Et
oile, France. Animal(s): Six lambs aged 6 months to 1 year old.
Intervention(s): Hemi-ovaries were prepared and frozen from the right ovary
of six lambs and autografted 4 weeks later to the contralateral ovarian hi
lus. The autografts and the uterus were recovered 1 year later. Blood tests
were performed each week to measure P concentration.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Number of primordial follicles; levels of plasma P
.
Result(s): Histologic examination of ovarian slices after freezing showed n
o destruction of primordial, primary, secondary, or cavitary follicles. The
frozen ovarian autograft showed good recovery of the macroscopic and micro
scopic ovarian structure. After autografting, histologic examination reveal
ed primordial to cavitary follicles. Secretion of P started to rise 4 weeks
after the autograft. Histologic analysis of the endometrium showed numerou
s glands, vessels, and mucous secretion.
Conclusion(s): Frozen ovarian autografts achieved P secretion and endometri
al maturity. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.