Ovarian tissue cryopreservation: prospective randomized study on thawed ovarian tissue viability to estimate the maximum possible delivery time of tissue samples

Abstract

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is one of the most important methods to protect female fertility, but we just recently established the first central laboratory in China, now building a network with other hospitals. The aim was to estimate the thawed ovarian tissue viability and to explore the feasibility of short-distance transportation. Fifteen samples were obtained from each of 11 patients, i.e. in total 165 samples. One fresh sample was used for follicle counts, 14 punches were cryopreserved, thawed, and randomly divided into seven groups depending on the time after thawing: 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 min. Follicle counts, steroid hormones, and lactate levels were assessed. No significant differences for the three parameters of tissue viability comparing the seven groups were seen. The time can last up to two hours for the delivery of tissue samples from the laboratory to the surgery room. To our knowledge, this question has been tested for the first time systematically within a prospective randomized comparative study.

摘要

卵巢组织冻存是生殖力保护的重要方法之一, 但是在中国我们刚刚建立了第一家中心实验室, 并与其它医院建立网络。本研究的目的是评估复苏后卵巢组织活性以探讨短距离转运的可行性。11名患者各取15份样本, 共165份。取一个新鲜样本进行卵泡计数, 14个标本进行冷存、复苏, 并根据解冻后的时间随机分为7组：0、20、40、60、80、100、120min, 测定卵泡计数、类固醇激素和乳酸水平。七组之间进行对比, 三个卵巢组织活性指标均无显著差异。将组织样本从实验室送至手术室的时限可长达两小时。据我们所知, 这是一项首次就该问题进行的系统的前瞻性、随机、对比研究。

The Chinese abstracts are translated by Prof. Dr. Xiangyan Ruan and her team: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100026, China.

Keywords:

• Fertility protection
• cryopreservation
• thawing
• ovarian tissue viability

Acknowledgements

The authors especially thank Prof. Xingming Li for his assistance in statistical analysis of the data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Clinical medicine, Development of special funding support, code: XMLX201710; Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research, code: 2016–2-2113; Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, code Z161100000516143; Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals’ Ascent Plan, code: DFL20181401; Beijing Municipality Health Technology High-level Talent, code: 2014–2-016; SAFEA: Project for Key Foreign Experts, code: 20181100005; Beijing Nature Science Foundation Y181004, Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals Incubating Program”, code: PZ2019031.