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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 9/2019

01-09-2019 | Fertility | Fertility Preservation

In vitro survival of follicles in prepubertal ewe ovarian cortex cryopreserved by slow freezing or non-equilibrium vitrification

Authors: Yann Locatelli, L. Calais, N. Duffard, L. Lardic, D. Monniaux, P. Piver, P. Mermillod, M. J. Bertoldo

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 9/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

Vitrification is a well-accepted fertility preservation procedure for cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos but little is known regarding ovarian tissue, for which slow freezing is the current convention. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of non-equilibrium vitrification compared to conventional slow freezing for ovarian cortex cryopreservation.

Methods

Using prepubertal sheep ovaries, the capacity of the tissue to sustain folliculogenesis following cryopreservation and in vitro culture was evaluated. Ovarian cortex fragments were cultured in wells for 9 days, immediately or after cryopreservation by conventional slow freezing or non-equilibrium vitrification in straws. During culture, follicular populations within cortex were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry for PCNA and TUNEL. Steroidogenic activity of the tissue was monitored by assay for progesterone and estradiol in spent media.

Results

No significant differences in follicle morphology, PCNA, or TUNEL labeling were observed between cryopreservation methods at the initiation of culture. Similar decreases in the proportion of primordial follicle population, and increases in the proportion of growing follicles, were observed following culture of fresh or cryopreserved ovarian tissue regardless of cryopreservation method. At the end of culture, PCNA and TUNEL-positive follicles were not statistically altered by slow freezing or vitrification in comparison to fresh cultured fragments.

Conclusions

Overall, for both cryopreservation methods, the cryopreserved tissue showed equal capacity to fresh tissue for supporting basal folliculogenesis in vitro. Taken together, these data confirm that both non-equilibrium vitrification and slow-freezing methods are both efficient for the cryopreservation of sheep ovarian cortex fragments.
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Metadata
Title
In vitro survival of follicles in prepubertal ewe ovarian cortex cryopreserved by slow freezing or non-equilibrium vitrification
Authors
Yann Locatelli
L. Calais
N. Duffard
L. Lardic
D. Monniaux
P. Piver
P. Mermillod
M. J. Bertoldo
Publication date
01-09-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01532-8

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