Evaluation of the long-term function of cryopreserved ovarian grafts in the mouse, implications for human applications

Ovarian tissue storage has several potentially very valuable clinical appli cations, including the management of young female patients that are at risk of premature menopause. Ovarian tissue collection, used alone or in combin ation with oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, may help these patients safe guard their own future fertility. All available evidence from animal studie s indicates that grafting of frozen ovarian tissue should be feasible in th e human. This study on the mouse shows that frozen thawed ovarian tissue gr afts can restore long term fertility to previously ovariectomised recipient s. This, and other available evidence, indicates that ovarian tissue collec tion and storage, used alone or in combination with oocyte or embryo collec tion, may help safeguard the fertility of patients at risk of premature men opause. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights rese rved.