Long-Term Ovarian Function in Sheep after Ovariectomy and Transplantation of Autografts Stored at −196 C**This work was supported by Medical Research Council Program Grant 8929853.

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that ovarian function and fertility can be preserved in sheep after castration by autotransplantation of cryopreserved strips of ovarian cortex. In the current experiments we have investigated the long term survival of such grafts by detailed measurements of ovarian function for a period of nearly 2 yr after autotransplantation. After ovariectomy and transplantation of frozen/thawed grafts, the concentrations of FSH and LH rose to castrate levels for about 14 weeks before falling gradually to reach near-normal levels at about 60 weeks. In the breeding season from October 1994 to March 1995, all ewes had 5-10 estrous cycles that were similar in length to those in the 4 control ewes. Luteal function as indicated by the progesterone concentration was identical before and 11 months after transplantation. In contrast, the basal concentrations of FSH and LH were persistently raised throughout the luteal phase, but showed a normal decline during the follicular phase. The concentration of inhibin A in ovarian venous plasma measured at the end of the experiment 22 months after transplantation was significantly lower than that in control ewes (mean +/- SE, 409 +/- 118 vs. 1914 +/- 555 pg/ml; P < 0.004). Transplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue to SCID mice demonstrated that about 28% of primordial follicles survived the procedure. All of the ovaries transplanted into sheep contained large antral follicles and/or cysts, but very few primordial oocytes when recovered at autopsy after 22 months. These results demonstrate that despite a drastic reduction in the total number of primordial follicles, cyclical ovarian function is preserved in sheep after autotransplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue and provide experimental confirmation that such a technique could provide a means of preserving fertility in women undergoing chemo- or radiotherapy for malignant disease.