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Oocyte retrieval after heterotopic transplantation of ovarian tissue cryopreserved by closed vitrification protocol

  • Fertility Preservation
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

A device for closed vitrification was designed to reduce the risk of contamination and investigated on its efficacy for ovarian function recovery after cryopreservation and heterotopic transplantation.

Methods

Ovarian tissues from green fluorescence protein transgenic mice (10 GFP mice) were vitrified using the device, and warmed ovarian tissues were transplanted into the ovarian bursa region in wild-type female mice (6 mice). Fresh ovarian tissues were similarly transplanted as a control. After recovery of the estrous cycle, mice were mated with male mice. Ovarian tissues from six cynomolgus monkeys were vitrified and warmed with the device for autologous, heterotopic transplantation. Fresh tissue transplantation was not performed for the control. Ovarian function was examined by recovery of the hormonal cycle. Histological examination was conducted.

Results

The number of live pups per recipient mouse was not significantly different after transplantation of fresh or vitrified-warmed ovarian tissue, although the pregnancy rate was reduced with vitrified tissues. The hormonal cycle was restored in 5/6 monkeys after heterotopic transplantation of vitrified-warmed ovarian tissue. Follicles were harvested at eight sites in the omentum and 13 sites in the mesosalpinx. In vitro maturation (IVM)/IVF produced embryo but did not develop.

Conclusions

Resumption of the hormonal cycles, follicle development, and oocyte retrieval from vitrified-warmed ovarian tissue transplants may indicate that the use of vitrification for ovarian tissue in a closed system has a potential of clinical application without the risk of contaminations. More detailed analyses of the effects of vitrification on ovarian tissue, such as gene expression patterns in oocytes and granulosa cells, may be needed for establishing a standard procedure for cryopreservation of ovarian tissues in human.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Ikko Kawashima for support with IVM/IVF; Ms. Ami Amou for cryopreserving and thawing of ovarian tissues; Ms. Asami Onimal for the support in conducting the histological examinations; Tomohiro Noguchi, M.S. (Kitazato Co., Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan) for supplying the devices and solutions and for allowing us to conduct thermal conductivity measurements; Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan for supplying Seprafilm; and Dr. David Robert McQuire (Yamada Translation Bureau, Tokyo, Japan) for assistance with manuscript editing.

Funding

This study was funded by grant no. AS2522901P, Adaptable and Seamless Technology transfer Program through target driven R&D (A-STEP), and no. 16gk0110014h0001, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 216-8511, Japan

    Yodo Sugishita, Naoki Okamoto, Atsushi Uekawa, Mariko Nakajima, Chie Namba, Suguru Igarashi, Takumi Sato & Nao Suzuki

  2. Namba IVF Clinic, Osaka, 550-0015, Japan

    Takayuki Yamochi & Shu Hashimoto

  3. Eve Bioscience, Co, Ltd., Wakayama, 648-0003, Japan

    Sei Ohta & Makoto Takenoshita

  4. Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 216-8511, Japan

    Akiko Tozawa

  5. HORAC IVF Grand Front, Osaka, 530-0011, Japan

    Yoshiharu Morimoto

Authors
  1. Yodo Sugishita
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  2. Naoki Okamoto
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  3. Atsushi Uekawa
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  4. Takayuki Yamochi
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  5. Mariko Nakajima
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  6. Chie Namba
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  7. Suguru Igarashi
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  8. Takumi Sato
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  9. Sei Ohta
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  10. Makoto Takenoshita
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  11. Shu Hashimoto
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  12. Akiko Tozawa
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  13. Yoshiharu Morimoto
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  14. Nao Suzuki
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Contributions

Y.S., Y.M., A.T., and N.S. participated in the study conception and design; Y.S., A.U., M.N., S.H., and N.S. developed the device; N.O. and M.N. performed mouse studies; Y.S. and M.N. completed freeze–thawing of ovarian tissue in the monkey study; Y.S., N.S., C.N., and S.I. performed surgery on the monkeys; S.O. and M.T. performed ovarian stimulation and management in the monkeys; T.Y. performed collection of monkey oocytes and IVM/IVF; and Y.S. and T.S. conducted histological examination.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nao Suzuki.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Sugishita, Y., Okamoto, N., Uekawa, A. et al. Oocyte retrieval after heterotopic transplantation of ovarian tissue cryopreserved by closed vitrification protocol. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 2037–2048 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1298-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1298-y

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