Orthotopic microvascular reanastomosis of whole cryopreserved ovine ovaries resulting in pregnancy and live birth.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of contralateral autotransplantation of cryopreserved whole ovaries with microanastomosis of the ovarian vascular pedicle.

DESIGN

Animal study.

SETTING

Department of Biomedical Sciences, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria.

ANIMAL(S): Nine ewes, six month of age.

INTERVENTION(S): Laparotomic unilateral oophorectomy was performed. Ovaries were frozen using a controlled-rate freezing system. After frozen storage, contralateral laparotomic oophorectomy was performed, and the thawed ovaries were returned to the contralateral orthotopic site with microsurgical vascular anastomosis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Histologic examination and serum follicle-stimulating hormone and progesterone levels.

RESULT(S): Four sheep showed postoperative luteal function. One sheep conceived after spontaneous intercourse and delivered a healthy lamb 545 days after transplantation. Histologic examination of the ovaries 18-19 months after transplantation showed that the structural integrity of the ovarian stroma had largely been retained in six out of nine animals. Follicular survival rate in the grafted ovaries was 1.7%-7.6%.

CONCLUSION(S): Microvascular anastomosis of whole ovaries and orthotopic transplantation after cryopreservation is technically feasible and a promising procedure in ovarian tissue banking.