OBJECTIVE: To cryopreserve human ovarian tissue using solid-surface vitrification (SSV) technique for the first time. STUDY DESIGN: Human ovarian slices from each of 26 patients were randomly allocated to fresh, SSV, and slow-freezing groups, respectively. Histological observation and the TUNEL assay of the tissue were performed after cryopreservation. In vitro culture was done to study the initial recruitment of follicles and hormone production ability after SSV/slow-freezing. RESULTS: The majority of primordial follicles were maintained intact through either SSV or the slow-freezing method. No statistically significant destructive effect of SSV or slow-freezing for primordial follicles and stromal cells was found using the TUNEL assay. In the SSV and slow-freezing groups, estradiol and progesterone were secreted continuously during 10 days in culture, and the proportions of growing follicles increased significantly comparing to the uncultured fresh group. The follicular proportions and the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone exhibited no statistically significant differences between the SSV and slow-freezing groups. CONCLUSION: SSV is an effective, simple and inexpensive alternative for human ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
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