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GDF9-β promotes folliculogenesis in sheep ovarian transplantation onto the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in cryopreservation programs

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Ovarian tissue (OT) cryopreservation is a treatment option for fertility preservation among young cancer patients. However, the procedure may involve a reduction in the GDF9-β expression and a delay in follicular growth after thawing and transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether supplementation of GDF9-β can compensate the reduction of this factor during the cryopresevation process and promote folliculogenesis after transplantation of thawed sheep ovarian tissue.

Methods

Sheep OT was cryopreserved using two methods of vitrification and slow freezing. Fresh and thawed OTs were then transplanted onto chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and then divided into two groups based on the addition of GDF9-β to the grafted tissue. After 5 days of culture, both histological and immunohistological (Ki-67) assessments were performed to evaluate follicular structure, development, and proliferation. The fibrotic and necrotic areas were measured using MICROVISIBLE software.

Results

Folliculogenesis took place in all culture groups, but was significantly improved only in the +GDF9-β cultured group. Also, better follicular structure was preserved in the aforementioned group (p < 0.05). When GDF9-β was supplemented to the culture medium, more neovascularization (p < 0.05) and better transplantation (p > 0.05) was observed. Furthermore, the areas of fibrosis and necrosis were lower in this group rather than the controls. Follicular proliferative activity was significantly higher only in the slow freezing +GDF9-β cultured group.

Conclusions

GDF9-β, as a stimulatory factor, not only promoted the folliculogenesis in the fresh ovarian transplant, but also compensated for its reduction during the cryopreservation process.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

    Mahboubeh Vatanparast

  2. Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi Medical Sciences University, Yazd, Iran

    Mahboubeh Vatanparast, Mohammad Ali Khalili & Nahid Yari

  3. X&Y Fertility, Leicester, UK

    Bryan Woodward

  4. Gerash Al-Zahra Fertility Center, Gerash University of Medical Sciences, Gerash, Iran

    Mehdi Mohsenzadeh

Authors
  1. Mahboubeh Vatanparast
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  2. Mohammad Ali Khalili
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  3. Nahid Yari
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  4. Bryan Woodward
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  5. Mehdi Mohsenzadeh
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Contributions

MV and MM: protocol/project development. MV and NY: data collection or management. NY: data analysis. BW: manuscript writing/editing. MAK: manuscript writing/editing

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Ali Khalili.

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The research did not get any financial support from any funding agency regarding the material. No conflicts of interest with the authors to be declared.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. The use of slaughterhouse derived ovaries and the CAM culture system does not raise ethical or legal concerns, nor does it violate the animal protection laws [9].

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Vatanparast, M., Khalili, M.A., Yari, N. et al. GDF9-β promotes folliculogenesis in sheep ovarian transplantation onto the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in cryopreservation programs. Arch Gynecol Obstet 298, 607–615 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4838-x

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