Damage of Granusola and Stroma Cells Exposed to Mouse Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation: Potential Mechanism of Ovarian Injury.

BACKGROUND

Several obstacles must be overcome before ovarian tissue cryopreservation can be used as a standard procedure.

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a morphologic and functional study of the effect of cryopreservation on mouse follicles and stroma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Female mice were divided into three groups (control, fresh graft and cryopreserved graft). Ultrastructural features of follicles and stroma cells were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy. After autologous transplantation, micro-vessel densities of grafts were examined.

RESULTS

Vacuoles in granulosa cells and stromal cells are significantly greater than that of oocytes. The microvessel density of fresh grafts is significantly higher than that in frozen-thawed grafts.

CONCLUSION

Granusola and stroma cells, rather than oocytes, are vulnerable to cryoinjury. Injuries to granulosa cells and stromal cells could be the critical part of ovarian damage caused by cryopreservation.