Skip to main content

Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation: A Realistic, Effective Technology for Fertility Preservation

  • Protocol
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1154))

Abstract

It is clear that ovarian tissue cryopreservation can serve a very important role in providing fertility preservation. To date, more than 30 live human births have resulted from the transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue, proving the successful implementation of this technique. The ideal conditions for ovarian tissue cryopreservation have yet to be determined, indicating the crucial need for more research in this field. Nonetheless, it is recommended that ovarian tissue cryopreservation be offered as an option to women before undergoing chemotherapy treatment in instances where there is no time to delay for hormonal stimulation and oocyte retrieval.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Protocol
USD   49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Springer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more

References

  1. Meirow D (2000) Reproduction post-chemotherapy in young cancer patients. Mol Cell Endocrinol 169(1–2):123–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. ECotACSfRM (2005) Fertility preservation and reproduction in cancer patients. Fertil Steril 83:1622–1628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Donnez J, Dolmans MM (2010) Cryopreservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue. Clin Obstet Gynecol 53(4):787–796

    Google Scholar 

  4. Meirow D, Schenker JG (1998) Cryopreservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue as a means of preserving female fertility. Harefuah 134(6):461–464

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Meirow D (2010) Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissues. Fertil Cryopreserv. In: Fertility Preservation, ed Ri Cheng Chian and Patrick Quinn. Published by Cambridge University Press. 218–232

    Google Scholar 

  6. Goldman MB (1974) Immunogenetic factors in the survival of ovarian transplants. Transplantation 17(5):518–523

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nugent D, Meirow D, Brook PF, Aubard Y, Gosden RG (1997) Transplantation in reproductive medicine: previous experience, present knowledge and future prospects. Hum Reprod Update 3(3):267–280

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gosden RG, Baird DT, Wade JC, Webb R (1994) Restoration of fertility to oophorectomized sheep by ovarian autografts stored at −196 degrees C. Hum Reprod 9(4):597–603

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Baird DT, Webb R, Campbell BK, Harkness LM, Gosden RG (1999) Long-term ovarian function in sheep after ovariectomy and transplantation of autografts stored at −196 C. Endocrinology 140(1):462–471

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Candy CJ, Wood MJ, Whittingham DG (1995) Follicular development in cryopreserved marmoset ovarian tissue after transplantation. Hum Reprod 10(9):2334–2338

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Salle B, Demirci B, Franck M, Rudigoz RC, Guerin JF, Lornage J (2002) Normal pregnancies and live births after autograft of frozen-thawed hemi-ovaries into ewes. Fertil Steril 77(2):403–408

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Almodin CG, Minguetti-Camara VC, Meister H et al (2004) Recovery of fertility after grafting of cryopreserved germinative tissue in female rabbits following radiotherapy. Hum Reprod 19(6):1287–1293

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dissen GA, Lara HE, Fahrenbach WH, Costa ME, Ojeda SR (1994) Immature rat ovaries become revascularized rapidly after autotransplantation and show a gonadotropin-dependent increase in angiogenic factor gene expression. Endocrinology 134(3):1146–1154

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Van Eyck AS, Bouzin C, Feron O, Romeu L, Van Langendonckt A, Donnez J, Dolmans MM (2010) Both host and graft vessels contribute to revascularization of xenografted human ovarian tissue in a murine model. Fertil Steril 93(5):1676–1685

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lee DM, Yeoman RR, Battaglia DE et al (2004) Live birth after ovarian tissue transplant. Nature 428(6979):137–138

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Oktay KNH, Mullan J, Gosden RG (1998) Development of human primordial follicles to antral stages in SCID/hpg mice stimulated with follicle stimulating hormone. Hum Reprod 13:1133–1138

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gook DA, Edgar DH, Borg J, Archer J, Lutjen PJ, McBain JC (2003) Oocyte maturation, follicle rupture and luteinization in human cryopreserved ovarian tissue following xenografting. Hum Reprod 18(9):1772–1781

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gook DA, Edgar DH, Borg J, Archer J, McBain JC (2005) Diagnostic assessment of the developmental potential of human cryopreserved ovarian tissue from multiple patients using xenografting. Hum Reprod 20(1):72–78

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kim SS, Soules MR, Battaglia DE (2002) Follicular development, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation in cryopreserved human ovarian tissue after xenotransplantation. Fertil Steril 78(1):77–82

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Meirow D, Fasouliotis SJ, Nugent D, Schenker JG, Gosden RG, Rutherford AJ (1999) A laparoscopic technique for obtaining ovarian cortical biopsy specimens for fertility conservation in patients with cancer. Fertil Steril 71(5):948–951

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Meirow D, Baum M, Yaron R et al (2007) Ovarian tissue cryopreservation in hematologic malignancy: ten years’ experience. Leuk Lymphoma 48(8):1569–1576

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cobo A, Meseguer M, Remohi J, Pellicer A (2010) Use of cryo-banked oocytes in an ovum donation programme: a prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Hum Reprod 25(9):2239–2246

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Meirow D, Schiff E (2005) Impact of maternal exposure to chemotherapy on embryos and offspring J National Cancer Institute 34:21–25

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kujjo LL, Chang EA, Pereira RJ et al (2011) Chemotherapy-induced late transgenerational effects in mice. PLoS One 6(3):e17877

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bar-Joseph H, Ben-Aharon I, Rizel S, Stemmer SM, Tzabari M, Shalgi R (2010) Doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. Reprod Toxicol 30(4):566–572

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Winther JF, Boice JD Jr, Mulvihill JJ et al (2004) Chromosomal abnormalities among offspring of childhood-cancer survivors in Denmark: a population-based study. Am J Hum Genet 74(6):1282–1285

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Donnez J, Dolmans MM, Demylle D et al (2004) Livebirth after orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Lancet 364(9443):1405–1410

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Donnez J, Squifflet J, Dolmans M (2011) Ovarian tissue transplantation. In: Donnez J, Samuel Kim S (eds) Principles and practice of fertility preservation. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 357–366

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  29. Borgstrom B, Hreinsson J, Rasmussen C et al (2009) Fertility preservation in girls with turner syndrome: prognostic signs of the presence of ovarian follicles. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94(1):74–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Andersen CY, Rosendahl M, Byskov AG et al (2008) Two successful pregnancies following autotransplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue. Hum Reprod 23(10):2266–2272

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Meirow D, Levron J, Eldar-Geva T et al (2005) Pregnancy after transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in a patient with ovarian failure after chemotherapy. N Engl J Med 353(3):318–321

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Donnez J, Silber S, Andersen CY et al (2010) Children born after autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. a review of 13 live births. Ann Med 43(6):437–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Meirow D, Fasouliotis SJ, Nugent D, Schenker JG, Gosden RG, Rutherford AJ (1999) A laparoscopic technique for obtaining ovarian cortical biopsies for fertility conservation in cancer patients. Fertil Steril 71:948–951

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Revel A, Koler M, Simon A, Lewin A, Laufer N, Safran A (2003) Oocyte collection during cryopreservation of the ovarian cortex. Fertil Steril 79(5):1237–1239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Seshadri T, Gook D, Lade S et al (2006) Lack of evidence of disease contamination in ovarian tissue harvested for cryopreservation from patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and analysis of factors predictive of oocyte yield. Br J Cancer 94(7):1007–1010

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Gook D, Edgar DH (2011) Ovarian tissue cryopreservation. In: Donnez J, Samuel Kim S (eds) Principles and practice of fertility preservation. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 342–356

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  37. Schmidt KL, Ernst E, Byskov AG, Nyboe Andersen A, Yding Andersen C (2003) Survival of primordial follicles following prolonged transportation of ovarian tissue prior to cryopreservation. Hum Reprod 18(12):2654–2659

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Mazur P (1970) Cryobiology: the freezing of biological systems. Science 168(3934):939–949

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Hunter J, Bernard A, Fuller B, McGrath J, Shaw RW (1992) Plasma membrane water permeabilities of human oocytes: the temperature dependence of water movement in individual cells. J Cell Physiol 150(1):175–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Newton H, Fisher J, Arnold JR, Pegg DE, Faddy MJ, Gosden RG (1998) Permeation of human ovarian tissue with cryoprotective agents in preparation for cryopreservation. Hum Reprod 13(2):376–380

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Oktay K, Nugent D, Newton H, Salha O, Chatterjee P, Gosden RG (1997) Isolation and characterization of primordial follicles from fresh and cryopreserved human ovarian tissue. Fertil Steril 67(3):481–486

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Picton HM, Kim SS, Gosden RG (2000) Cryopreservation of gonadal tissue and cells. Br Med Bull 56(3):603–615

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Gook DA, Edgar DH, Stern C (1999) Effect of cooling rate and dehydration regimen on the histological appearance of human ovarian cortex following cryopreservation in 1, 2-propanediol. Hum Reprod 14(8):2061–2068

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Meirow D, Levron J, Eldar-Geva T et al (2007) Monitoring the ovaries after autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue: endocrine studies, in vitro fertilization cycles, and live birth. Fertil Steril 87(2):418 e7–418 e15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Kagawa N, Silber S, Kuwayama M (2009) Successful vitrification of bovine and human ovarian tissue. Reprod Biomed Online 18(4):568–577

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Fahy GM, Wowk B, Wu J, Paynter S (2004) Improved vitrification solutions based on the predictability of vitrification solution toxicity. Cryobiology 48(1):22–35

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Keros V, Xella S, Hultenby K et al (2009) Vitrification versus controlled-rate freezing in cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue. Hum Reprod 24(7):1670–1683

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Meirow D, Hardan I, Dor J et al (2008) Searching for evidence of disease and malignant cell contamination in ovarian tissue stored from hematologic cancer patients. Hum Reprod 23(5):1007–1013

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Dolmans MM, Marinescu C, Saussoy P et al (2010) Reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is potentially unsafe. Blood 116(16):2908–2914

    Google Scholar 

  50. Rosendahl MAM, Ralfkiaer E et al (2010) Evidence of residual disease in cryopreserved ovarian cortex from female patients with leukemia. Fertil Steril 94:2186–2190

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Demeestere I, Simon P, Emiliani S, Delbaere A, Englert Y (2006) Options to preserve fertility before oncological treatment: cryopreservation of ovarian tissue and its clinical application. Acta Clin Belg 61(5):259–263

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Demeestere I, Simon P, Emiliani S, Delbaere A, Englert Y (2009) Orthotopic and heterotopic ovarian tissue transplantation. Hum Reprod Update 15(6):649–665

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Silber SJ, Lenahan KM, Levine DJ et al (2005) Ovarian transplantation between monozygotic twins discordant for premature ovarian failure. N Engl J Med 353(1):58–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Demeestere I, Simon P, Buxant F et al (2006) Ovarian function and spontaneous pregnancy after combined heterotopic and orthotopic cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation in a patient previously treated with bone marrow transplantation: case report. Hum Reprod 21(8):2010–2014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Piver P, Amiot C, Agnani G et al (2009) Two pregnancies obtained after a new technique of autotranplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Hum Reprod 24:i150-035

    Google Scholar 

  56. Revel A, Laufer N, Ben Meir A, Lebovich M, Mitrani E (2011) Micro-organ ovarian transplantation enables pregnancy: a case report. Hum Reprod 26(5):1097–1103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Nugent D, Newton H, Gallivan L, Gosden RG (1998) Protective effect of vitamin E on ischaemia-reperfusion injury in ovarian grafts. J Reprod Fertil 114(2):341–346

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Maltaris T, Beckmann MW, Binder H et al (2007) The effect of a GnRH agonist on cryopreserved human ovarian grafts in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Reproduction 133(2):503–509

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Sanchez-Serrano M, Crespo J, Mirabet V et al (2010) Twins born after transplantation of ovarian cortical tissue and oocyte vitrification. Fertil Steril 93(1):268 e11–268 e13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Ernst E, Bergholdt S, Jorgensen JS, Andersen CY (2010) The first woman to give birth to two children following transplantation of frozen/thawed ovarian tissue. Hum Reprod 25(5):1280–1281

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dror Meirow .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Meirow, D., Ra’anani, H., Biderman, H. (2014). Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation: A Realistic, Effective Technology for Fertility Preservation. In: Rosenwaks, Z., Wassarman, P. (eds) Human Fertility. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1154. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0659-8_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0659-8_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0658-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0659-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics