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Endocrinology Vol. 140, No. 1 462-471
Copyright © 1999 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Long-Term Ovarian Function in Sheep after Ovariectomy and Transplantation of Autografts Stored at -196 C1

D. T. Baird, R. Webb2, B. K. Campbell, L. M. Harkness and R. G. Gosden3

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Biology (D.T.B., B.K.C., L.M.H.), and the Department of Physiology (R.G.G.), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 9EW, United Kingdom; and the Roslin Institute (Edinburgh) (R.W.), Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland EH 259PS, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. David T. Baird, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 9EW, United Kingdom.


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
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.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
MODERN management of childhood malignancies is now so successful that many children are cured. However, chemo- or radiotherapy frequently results in destruction of the germ cells in boys and girls, who are consequently infertile (1, 2). Reproductive function can be preserved in postpubertal boys by cryopreservation of sperm (3). However, mature oocytes are much more susceptible than sperm to damage during freezing, and very few pregnancies have been reported after this procedure (4). An alternative approach of freezing the whole ovary in small rodents was reported over 30 yr ago when it was found that ovarian function and fertility were restored in rodents after transplantation of cryopreserved ovaries (5, 6). However, such a technique is not possible in women, the ovaries of which are too large to allow successful transplantation without producing widespread ischemic necrosis during the time required for vascularization of the graft (7).

An alternative approach for large animals is to transplant small pieces of ovarian cortical tissue into which oxygen and nutrients can diffuse before vascularization takes place. We have previously demonstrated in the sheep that primordial follicles in thin strips of ovarian cortex remain viable after freezing to -196 C in cryopreservant (8). In the initial experiment, we demonstrated that viable ovarian tissue was recovered from all six ewes at slaughter, 9 months after transplantation of frozen-thawed ovarian slices to the ovarian pedicle (9). During this experiment one ewe became pregnant and delivered a healthy lamb after transplantation.

These results suggested that it might be possible to restore fertility in girls and young women whose ovaries were likely to be destroyed as a result of chemo- or radiotherapy for malignant disease such as leukemia. However, before offering such an option clinically, it would be necessary to know how long such grafts might survive so as to determine whether it was likely that pregnancy could occur. Only a small portion of total ovarian tissue is transplanted (~5%), and approximately 50% of oocytes survive the freezing and thawing (10). Hence, although cyclical ovarian function occurs after autotransplantation, there is a drastic reduction in the total number of oocytes present in the grafted ovaries. This situation is analogous to that which exists clinically during incipient ovarian failure before spontaneous or radiation-induced menopause when certain minor abnormalities in ovarian function have been described (2). Although the cyclical pattern of secretion of estradiol and progesterone is maintained, characteristically the concentration of FSH in the early follicular phase of the cycle is elevated above normal and, in one study, is associated with low levels of inhibin B (11).

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the endocrine function of the ovaries for a period of 2 yr in sheep after autotransplantation of frozen-thawed ovarian slices.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Twelve Finn x Dorset cross ewes (aged 6 months) were allocated to this experiment in September 1993. Four ewes (weight, 46.3 ± 0.9 kg) were used as controls, and eight ewes (weight, 46.3 ± 0.8 kg) were allocated to the treatment group. The ewes were housed indoors under natural lighting. Estrous behavior was detected by running the ewes with vasectomized rams. Throughout the duration of the experiment, samples of jugular venous blood (10 ml) were collected one or three times per week for the measurement of progesterone, LH, and FSH (Fig. 1Go). Plasma was separated within 2 h of collection and stored at -20 C until analysis.



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Figure 1. Diagram of experimental protocol. Samples of jugular venous blood were collected one to three times per week throughout the experiment. In November 1993 and 1994, samples of blood were collected more frequently for 20 days throughout a complete estrous cycle. The experiment was terminated in November 1995 when samples of ovarian venous blood were collected before ovariectomy (OVX) and slaughter.

 
In mid-December 1993, all 12 ewes were subjected to midventral laparotomy under general anesthesia. In 8 ewes (treatment group), bilateral ovariectomy was performed, with care being taken to ligate the ovarian ligament and vascular pedicle containing the ovarian artery and vein with 5/0 nonabsorbable silk suture. The ovaries of the remaining 4 ewes (controls) were identified and handled but left intact, and served as sham-operated controls.

Twenty-eight days later, in mid-January 1994, a second laparotomy was performed under general anesthesia when four thawed ovarian slices (two on each side) were anastomosed on to the ovarian pedicle close to the site of ovariectomy as identified by the silk suture. The slices were attached to the ovarian pedicle by two 6/0 prolene sutures (Ethicon Ltd., Edinburgh, UK). Six and 3 days before surgery, 100 µg estradiol benzoate were injected im to increase the vascularity of the uterus and ovarian pedicle.

During anestrus (April to September 1994) the frequency of blood samples was reduced to once per week before being increased to three times per week at the onset of the breeding season (September 1994).

A more detailed assessment of endocrine function was made throughout a complete estrous cycle 1 month before (November 1993) and 11 months after transplantation (November 1994) by collecting blood samples twice daily (0900 and 1600 h) for a period of approximately 20 days from the second estrus after synchronization with progestogen-impregnated sponges and/or cloprostenol (100 µg; Estrumate, Cooper’s Animal Health Ltd., Crewe, UK).

On October 15, 1995, after the onset of estrous behavior in the control ewes, all ewes were injected with 100 µg cloprostenol to induce luteal regression. All ewes showed estrus within 3 days and were given a further injection of cloprostenol on day 8 of the next cycle. Seven days later (approximately day 5 of the cycle), the ewes were anesthetized with thiopentone and 2% halothane, and samples of ovarian venous blood were collected from each side. Careful note of the presence of corpora lutea and follicles and their sizes was made before slaughtering the animals with an overdose of thiopentone. The ovaries were dissected free from the ovarian pedicle, weighed, and fixed in 5% paraform-aldehyde.

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue
The ovaries were transferred to Leibovitz-L15 medium at room temperature for preparing cortical strips for cryopreservation. Cortex that was free of obvious follicles or luteal tissue was cut with a scalpel to a thickness of approximately 1 mm, avoiding the hilar area.

The strips intended for autografting were trimmed to remove ragged edges (~5 x 5 mm), and pieces were also set aside for grafting into immunodeficient SCID mice (see below).

The tissue was cryopreserved using the same protocol as that described by Gosden et al. (9). It was equilibrated for 30 min at 0 C in cryogenic vials containing Leibovitz medium containing 10% bovine calf serum and 1.5 M dimethylsulfoxide. The tubes were transferred to a programmable freezer (Planar Products) and cooled at 2 C/min to 1–7 C for seeding. The second cooling ramp was at 0.3 C/min to -40 C and subsequently at 10 C/min to -140 C. Finally, the tubes were plunged into liquid nitrogen and stored in a dewar for approximately 1 month. The tissue was thawed rapidly by swirling in a water bath at room temperature. It was immediately transferred to fresh medium and washed three more times to remove the cryoprotectant. Four strips were then used for autografting on to the ovarian pedicle.

Further fresh strips were used for assessment of follicle survival in SCID mice. Strips of ovarian tissue were transferred to fresh medium and held at 0 C for 2–3 h before trimming as 1 x 1 x 1-mm blocks. The pieces were allocated randomly to three experimental groups. Each sheep provided four tissue slices for frozen storage and four for fresh grafts.

Group 1
The tissues were fixed overnight in aqueous Bouin’s fluid and prepared as paraffin wax blocks, serially sectioned at 6 µm, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and mounted.

Group 2
The tissues were grafted under the renal capsule of virgin female SCID mice, aged 8–10 weeks. The procedures were carried out under strictly aseptic conditions in a laminar flow hood. The tissues were incubated for 6 h on Milli-cell membranes (Millipore Corp., Bedford, MA) in MEM containing 10% donor calf serum, gentamicin, and amphotericin B to eliminate any microbial contamination. The animals were anesthetized with tribromoethanol (0.6 g/kg BW), with the left kidney from each of 32 mice (16 in groups 2 and 3) being exposed by a flank incision for inserting a graft at both poles. The wounds were closed, and the animals were returned to a positive pressure isolator, where they were provided with sterile food and water. They were killed by cervical dislocation 3 weeks later, and the grafts were retrieved for histology as in group 1.

Group 3
These tissues were cryopreserved using the same protocol as before. They were stored in liquid nitrogen for 1 week, thawed, washed thoroughly in fresh Leibovitz medium to remove the cryoprotectant, and subsequently grafted into SCID mice as before. The timing of tissue recovery and subsequent histology of the grafts were identical to those in the other groups. The slides were given code numbers to avoid bias when counting the total number of primordial follicles per graft.

Hormone assays
Gonadotropin and steroid plasma concentrations were measured in duplicate using a previously described double antibody RIA. FSH (12), LH (13), and progesterone were determined in unextracted jugular venous samples (12). Androstenedione and estradiol were measured in ovarian venous plasma samples after solvent extraction (13). The sensitivities of the assay for FSH, LH, progesterone, androstenedione, and estradiol were 0.3 µg/liter (USDA, oFSH, SIAFP-RP-2), 0.2 µg/liter (NIDDK, oLH, S23), 380 pmol/liter, 175 pmol/liter, and 50 pmol/liter, respectively. The concentration of inhibin A in ovarian venous plasma was measured by two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay described for use in human plasma samples (14) and modified for use in sheep plasma (15, 16). The sensitivity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 30 ng/liter, and the intra- and interassay variations in the immunoassays used were less than 15% in the ED20–80 range.

Statistical analysis
Hormone profile data from all experiments was log transformed and analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA, with data being partitioned on the basis of treatment and time (ANOVA). The data from a complete estrous cycle before and 11 months after autografting was grouped around the day of behavioral estrus, as there were minor differences in cycle length between animals. The t test was used for comparison of ovarian venous blood.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Cyclic behavior
All ewes showed signs of estrous behavior during the breeding seasons of 1993, 1994, and 1995. After sham ovariectomy, the four control ewes continued to show estrous and cyclical fluctuations in the concentration of progesterone until the end of the breeding season in 1994 and throughout the breeding season from September 1994 to February 1995 (Fig. 2Go). Two ewes became pregnant inadvertently (the ram was incompletely vasectomized) and delivered healthy twins and triplets in April and June, respectively. Estrous behavior and cyclical fluctuations in progesterone were observed in all control ewes in the autumn of 1995 before slaughter in November.



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Figure 2. Concentrations of progesterone, LH, and FSH in jugular venous plasma of two control ewes (Y32 and Y28) before and after sham ovariectomy (Sham Ovex). Note that Y28 became pregnant inadvertently on December 9, 1994 and delivered twins on April 13, 1995.

 
Two of the eight treatment ewes showed a transient rise in the concentration of progesterone to between 5–10 nmol/liter at 2–4 months after ovarian autotransplantation, but none showed evidence of cyclical ovarian function or estrus before the end of the breeding season (April). All the ewes showed regular estrous cycles during the breeding season from September 1994 to February 1995 (Figs. 2Go and 3Go). One ewe became pregnant inadvertently in December 1994 and delivered triplets on May 31, 1995. There was no difference between control and treated ewes in the length of the estrous cycle (mean ± SE, 17.0 ± 0.4 vs. 17.3 ± 0.2 days, respectively) or in the number of detected estruses (excluding those ewes that became pregnant: control, 8 and 9; treatment: mean, 8.4, range, 5–10). In autumn of 1995, all ewes showed estrus on at least 1 occasion before slaughter in November.



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Figure 3. Concentrations of progesterone, LH, and FSH in jugular venous plasma in two ewes (Y20 and Y17) before and after bilateral ovariectomy in December 1993. Estradiol benzoate (100 µg) was injected 6 and 3 days (E2B) before autotransplantation of four frozen/thawed ovarian cortical strips. Note that ewe Y17 became inadvertently pregnant on January 10, 1995 and delivered triplets on May 21, 1995.

 
Gonadotropin concentration
Blood samples were collected too infrequently to accurately define the cyclical fluctuations in the concentrations of FSH and LH, except during the period of intense sampling when blood was collected twice daily. There were occasional episodic increases in the concentration of LH of about 20 ng/ml, representing a preovulatory LH peak. The data in the two control ewes that were pregnant are omitted from the mean data from December 1994 to June 1995 (Fig. 3Go).

In the ewes with transplanted ovaries there was a progressive rise in the concentrations of FSH and LH after ovariectomy in December 1993 to reach castrate levels by 3 weeks (P < 0.001). After the injection of estradiol benzoate, the concentration was suppressed again to levels similar to those in intact ewes (Figs. 2Go and 3Go). After autotransplantation of ovarian strips, the concentration of FSH rose progressively to reach a peak value at 14 weeks (P < 0.007). The concentration of FSH then declined steeply (P < 0.001) to values (4–5 ng/liter) midway between those in intact (1 µg/liter) and those in castrate animals (8 µg/liter). The values of FSH remained relatively constant before declining again (P < 0.001) to those found in intact ewes at the end of the breeding season (March 1995). After 7–8 weeks, the concentration of FSH increased again (P < 0.001) to 4–5 µg/liter. In contrast, the concentration of FSH in intact control ewes remained constant at 1–2 µg/liter throughout the experimental period (Fig. 4Go).



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Figure 4. The mean ± SE concentrations of progesterone, FSH, and LH in eight ewes after ovariectomy and autotransplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian cortical strips. Estradiol benzoate (100 µg) was injected 6 and 3 days before autotransplantation (E2B). The shaded area represents the mean ± SE of values for four control ewes, except for the time between weeks 56 and 78, when the dotted line represents the mean of the two nonpregnant ewes. The black bars indicate the limits of the breeding season in intact control ewes.

 
The initial changes in the concentration of LH were similar to those in FSH, with a rise after ovariectomy followed by a decline starting 14 weeks after transplantation (P < 0.001). Thereafter, LH concentrations remained relatively constant, although there was an increase (P < 0.001) at the beginning of the 1995 breeding season.

Detailed hormone profile over the estrous cycle
In the control ewes the hormone profiles in November 1993 and 1994 were identical (data not shown). In the treatment group there was no significant difference in the profile of progesterone concentration in samples collected before transplantation and that in samples collected 12 months later i.e. 11 months after transplantation (Fig. 5Go). In contrast, the concentration of FSH was significantly raised (P < 0.001) throughout the luteal phase of the cycle in treated ewes, and there was an absence of the peaks of FSH on days 1–2 and days 6–8 normally observed in intact ewes. In the follicular phase there was a marked decline in FSH concentrations (P < 0.0002) in treated ewes, so that by the day of estrus the levels were not significantly different from those in the intact ewes. The concentration of LH during the luteal phase of the cycle was also raised in the ewes with transplanted ovaries (P < 0.006). There was no significant difference in the magnitude or timing of the LH surge.



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Figure 5. Mean ± SE concentrations of progesterone, FSH, and LH in eight ewes throughout an estrous cycle before (•) and 11 months after ({circ}) ovariectomy and autotransplantation of four frozen/thawed ovarian cortical strips.

 
Hormones in ovarian venous blood
The mean concentrations of hormones in ovarian venous plasma from the right and left sides were calculated for each ewe before deriving the overall mean value for the group (Table 1Go). There was no significant difference in the concentrations of estradiol and androstenedione between the controls and ewes with transplanted ovaries. In contrast, the concentration of inhibin A was significantly lower in the transplanted animals than that in the control ewes (mean ± SE, 409 ± 118 vs. 1914 ± 555 pg/ml).


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Table 1. Concentrations of hormones in ovarian venous plasma in the early luteal phase of cycle

 
Morphology of the ovaries
At slaughter, transplanted ovarian tissue was identified and confirmed by the presence of a 6/0 prolene suture on each side in each ewe. In the control ewes, an average of three fresh corpora lutea was observed (2, 3, 4) as well as the presence of up to three large follicles, 4–7 mm diameter. Corpora lutea (n = 1–3) were present in only four of the ewes with transplanted ovaries. In contrast to the control ewes, ovaries of seven of the eight ewes in the treatment group had one or two large cystic follicles 8–20 mm diameter. These structures were present in all the ewes that had not ovulated and in three of the four ewes that also had corpora lutea. Histological examination of these structures showed the presence of hypertrophied theca with variable numbers of granulosa cells (Fig. 6Go).



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Figure 6. Micrographs of ovarian follicle from an intact control (a) and a cortical strip recovered at slaughter 22 months after transplantation (b). The normal control follicle shows numerous granulosa cells (g) bordering the antral cavity (c) and surrounded by vascular theca (t). The ovarian cortex contains several primordial follicles ({blacktriangleup}). The wall of the follicular cyst in the transplanted ovary is devoid of granulosa cells and ia lined by a thick luteinized theca externa. Hemotoxylin and eosin staining was used. Magnification, x20.

 
Assessment of follicle survival in SCID mice
The grafts recovered 3 weeks after surgery showed no signs of either inflammatory infiltrates or necrotic tissue. Scattered primordial follicles were usually present in the stroma and contained a normal oocyte and a single layer of squamous pregranulosa cells. Follicles containing cuboidal granulosa cells were rarely present, and no follicle contained more than one layer of cells.

The average number of follicles per tissue block was slightly less than 200. This was reduced by 65% after grafting the fresh tissue and by only another 7% after freezing and thawing before grafting (Table 2Go).


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Table 2. Survival of primordial follicles after grafting fresh or frozen-thawed cortical tissue from sheep ovaries to SCID mice

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The results of the present experiments have confirmed our original report that ovarian function can be preserved after castration by autotransplantation of ovarian strips without vascular anastomosis (9). The results of the transplantation to SCID mice indicate that the major loss of oocytes occurs during ischemia before revascularization rather than during freezing and thawing. After grafting fresh tissue, only 35% of oocytes survive, presumably due to damage occurring as a result of ischemia. As only a further 7% of primordial follicles were lost when the tissue was cryopreserved, it is unlikely that further significant improvements could be obtained by using different cryopreservants or conditions of freezing (10).

Although none of the primordial oocytes in the grafts in SCID mice showed evidence of development, previous research has demonstrated that preantral follicle development occurs if more time is allowed to elapse (8).

In contrast to controls, no ewes showed evidence of cyclical ovarian function within 3 months of transplantation during the remainder of the breeding season of 1993/1994. In two ewes there was transient elevation of the serum progesterone concentration, indicating the presence of a corpus luteum 60–80 days after transplantation. As few, if any, developing follicles survive cryopreservation and transplantation, these results indicate that the time taken from recruitment of primordial follicle to a large antral follicle is about 80 days. Previous estimates based on the mitotic index of granulosa cells at different stages of development have suggested that 5–6 months are required for folliculogenesis in this species (17, 18). It is possible that the raised levels of gonadotropins observed in these animals accelerated the rate of follicle development compared with that found in intact ewes or that in two ewes some small follicles survived the autotransplantation. The occurrence of anestrus prevented an accurate estimation of the time of reestablishment of ovulation, but clearly it can be as short as 80 days but no longer than 6 months, because cyclical ovarian function was observed in all ewes by the onset of the next breeding season.

The prompt rise in the concentrations of FSH and LH after ovariectomy was probably due to lack of the inhibitory effects of ovarian hormones. After the injection of estradiol benzoate, there was a sharp fall in the concentration of FSH, such that by the time of transplantation it had reached precastration levels. After autotransplantation, the rise in FSH concentration was similar to that observed after castration, indicating that the ovary was secreting minimal amounts of estradiol and inhibin. By mid-May 1994 (4 months after transplantation), there was a significant fall in the concentrations of FSH and LH, probably reflecting the development of large antral follicles in the ovaries. However, the decline in FSH secretion coincided with a period of summer anestrus, which is associated with reduced release of GnRH from the hypothalamus (19).

In the majority of ewes, the concentration of FSH fluctuated from day to day, although the overall mean concentration remained consistently higher than that in control ewes. It is likely that the raised levels of FSH were due to reduced secretion of inhibin A and estradiol, although the secretion of the latter was not different from that in control ewes at the time of slaughter. In sheep, over 90% of estradiol is secreted by large antral follicles greater than 4 mm in diameter (20). In contrast, a significant proportion of inhibin production is derived from small antral follicles (21, 22). The reduced inhibin secretion from transplanted ovaries probably reflects the reduced pool of small antral follicles from which the ovulatory follicles are selected. We have observed similar changes in hemicastrated old ewes (>12 yr), in which the pool of primordial follicles is drastically reduced (23).

Although the concentrations of FSH and LH were raised above normal in the ewes with transplanted ovaries, the pattern of hormones throughout the cycle was similar to normal. The similar concentration of progesterone in the luteal phase suggests that the numbers of corpora lutea (and ovulation rate) were the same before and after transplantation despite the reduced pool of antral follicles. Further support for this hypothesis is derived from the observation that the concentration of FSH declined normally after luteal regression during the follicular phase of the cycle. Direct evidence of the maintenance of ovulation rate was obtained in the four ewes that had ovulated in the few days before slaughter in November 1995 and by the birth of triplets to a ewe that inadvertently became pregnant.

It might be expected that the persistently raised levels of FSH would lead to an increase in the number of large antral follicles and hence an increased ovulation rate. Two factors were probably responsible for maintaining a normal number of ovulatory follicles. Firstly, the total number of follicles in the ovaries was drastically reduced by the transplantation procedure, and hence, although it is likely that a greater proportion of developing follicles avoided atresia, the pool of small antral follicles from which the ovulatory follicles are selected is likely to be limited. Secondly, although the basal level of FSH in the luteal phase was raised, it was suppressed to normal levels during the follicular phase of the cycle. This inhibitory effect of estradiol and inhibin secreted by the dominant follicles ensures that the number of ovulatory follicles is restricted to that which is appropriate for that breed (24).

Although ovarian cyclicity was observed after transplantation, by the time of slaughter at 22 months, there was evidence of abnormalities in all ewes. Only four of the eight ewes had ovulated within 7 days of induction of luteal regression by injection of cloprostenol. The ovaries of all but one ewe had at least one large antral follicle (>7 mm diameter). It is likely in the four ewes in which the ovaries contained no corpora lutea that these large cystic structures (19–24 mm) represent preovulatory follicles that had failed to ovulate. The large follicles (8–9 mm) in the ovaries of three of the ewes that had ovulated may be due to stimulation by the raised levels of FSH of the cohort of follicles (4–6 mm diameter) that developed in the early luteal phase of the sheep estrous cycle. The persistently raised level of LH is likely to have induced luteinization of the theca and disruption of folliculogenesis (25).

In the sheep, the basal secretion of LH is suppressed by a combination of progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum and estradiol derived from large antral follicles. As the concentration of progesterone is normal after transplantation, it must be presumed that the secretion of estradiol is reduced due to a depletion of large antral follicles. The fact that there was no significant difference in LH concentration during the follicular phase between intact and transplanted ewes suggests that the secretion of estradiol from the preovulatory follicles is normal. This would be in keeping with the decline in FSH concentration in transplanted ewes during the follicular phase when estradiol is a more important regulator of FSH than inhibin (22).

Although the number of oocytes in each graft was not measured, estimates can be made based on the number in 1-mm cubes (192). In each ewe, four cortical strips measuring 5 x 5 x 1 mm were autografted, containing approximately 19,200 primordial oocytes (4 x 25 x 192), of which 5376 (28%) survived freezing, thawing, and transplantation. The fact that by the time of slaughter the levels of FSH were near those found in castrate animals together with the presence of cystic ovaries suggests that ovarian failure was imminent. These findings indicate that the grafts have a limited lifespan and that when such techniques are applied clinically, women should be advised to defer autotransplantation until that they wish to become pregnant.

The primary purpose of the present experiment was to determine how long ovarian function could be preserved in ewes after autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian slices. The results demonstrate that despite drastic reduction in the pool of oocytes, cyclical ovarian function was observed in all ewes for nearly 2 yr. Despite the raised basal levels of FSH, the cyclical pattern of ovarian hormones consistent with ovulation was preserved. These results have encouraged us to offer cryostorage of ovarian tissue using similar techniques to girls and young women in whom ovarian function may be lost due to chemo- or radiotherapy.


    Acknowledgments
 
We are grateful to Joan Docherty for help with the management of the sheep and to Margaret Harper for typing the manuscript. Nigel Groome supplied the reagents for the measurement of inhibin A.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by Medical Research Council Program Grant 8929853. Back

2 Present address: Division of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Nottingham School of Biological Sciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom LE12 5RD. Back

3 Present address: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Leeds, D Floor, Clarendon Wing, Belmont Grove, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2 9NS. Back

Received August 3, 1998.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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