Objective: The aim of the study was to observe and compare the effects of cryopreservation and thawing meth- ods on rat ovarian tissues. Methods: Twenty 5-6 weeks old SPF-SD female rats were randomly divided into two groups, with ten rats in each group. Freshly isolated ovaries saved as a control (group 1: fresh ovaries) in formalin-fixed or vitrified immediately after dissection (group 2: vitrified ovaries). Ovaries in vitrified group were processed into thin slices then cryo- preserved, stored in liquid nitrogen for 21 days, rapidly thawed and grossly examined. All of the collected ovaries underwent hematoxylin and eosin-stained paraffin serial sections and observed the microscopic evaluation in vitrified ovaries. Results: Grossly the vitrified ovaries turned pale color and the size was same as before freeze. The vitrified ovarian tissue had normal anatomical structures of cortex and medulla under the microscope and had no difference with the fresh control ovarian tis- sue. The number and distribution of the follicles were similar with the fresh ovarian tissue, but had smaller size and the gap between oocyte and the surrounding granulosa cells was increased. Few ooctyes were in irregular appearance however the morphology of follicular cells did not give a different appearance as compared to the fresh control ovarian tissue. Conclusion: Cryopreservation of ovarian tissues by vitrification method has some detrimental effect on the morphology of follicles but does not induce negative impact on the number, density and survival of the primordial ovarian follicles. However the whole follicle anatomical structures also had no significant changes.
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