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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Spontaneous antral follicle formation and metaphase II oocyte from a non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplant

Authors: Laura Lotz, Jana Liebenthron, Stephanie M Nichols-Burns, Markus Montag, Inge Hoffmann, Matthias W Beckmann, Hans van der Ven, Dagmar Töpfer, Ralf Dittrich

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Current strategies in cancer treatment have markedly increased the rates of remission and survival for cancer patients, but are often associated with subsequent sterility. While there are various options available to an adult female depending on the patient’s particular situation, the only realistic option for preserving fertility in prepubertal females is to cryopreserve ovarian tissue. This is the first report of a morphologically mature oocyte collected from non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplants.

Methods

Ovarian tissue from a 6 year old patient suffering from nephroblastoma was removed and cryopreserved for fertility preservation. The frozen-thawed ovarian tissue fragments were xenotransplanted to bilaterally oophorectomized severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice to assess follicle development.

Results

Antral follicle formation occurred post-xenotransplantation in a single ovarian fragment without exogenous hormone stimulation. A morphologically maturing oocyte was harvested from these follicles.

Conclusions

Prepubertal human ovarian follicles and oocytes can be matured after xenotransplantation even without exogenous hormone stimulation. These results indicate that tissue collected from prepubertal patients can support fertility in cancer survivors.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Spontaneous antral follicle formation and metaphase II oocyte from a non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplant
Authors
Laura Lotz
Jana Liebenthron
Stephanie M Nichols-Burns
Markus Montag
Inge Hoffmann
Matthias W Beckmann
Hans van der Ven
Dagmar Töpfer
Ralf Dittrich
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-12-41

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