Expression of Folliculogenesis-Related Genes in Vitrified Human Ovarian Tissue After Two Weeks Culture

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitrification and culture of human ovarian tissue on the expression of oocytic and follicular cell-related genes.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, ovarian tissue samples were obtained from eight transsexual women. Samples were cut into small fragments and were then assigned to vitrified and non-vitrified groups. In each group, some tissue fragments were divided into un-cultured and cultured (in α-MEM medium for 2 weeks) subgroups. The normality of follicles was assessed by morphological observation under a light microscope using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Expression levels of factor in the germ line alpha (), KIT ligand (), growth differentiation factor 9 () and follicle stimulating hormone receptor () genes were quantified in both groups by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the beginning and the end of culture.

Results: The percentage of normal follicles was similar between non-cultured vitrified and non-vitrified groups (P>0.05), however, cultured tissues had significantly fewer normal follicles than non-cultured tissues in both vitrified and non-vitrified groups (P<0.05). In both cultured groups the rate of primary and secondary follicles was significantly higher than non-cultured tissues (P<0.05). The expression of all examined genes was not significantly altered in both non-cultured groups. Whiles, in comparison with cultured tissues non-cultured tissues, the expression of gene was significantly decreased, gene was not changed, and genes was significantly increased (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Human ovarian vitrification following culture has no impairing effects on follicle normality and development and expression of related-genes. However, culture condition has deleterious effects on normality of follicles.