Freezing solution containing dimethylsulfoxide and fetal calf serum maintains survival and ultrastructure of goat preantral follicles after cryopreservation and in vitro culture of ovarian tissue

Cell Tissue Res. 2011 Nov;346(2):283-92. doi: 10.1007/s00441-011-1257-8. Epub 2011 Oct 19.

Abstract

Goat ovarian cortex fragments were subjected to slow freezing in the presence of various solutions containing intracellular cryoprotectants, including 1.0 M ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH), or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), with or without sucrose and/or fetal calf serum (FCS). Histological examination revealed that only the DMSO-containing solutions were able to maintain a follicular ultrastructure similar to the morphology observed in the fresh control. Therefore, fragments previously cryopreserved in DMSO solutions (with and without sucrose and/or FCS) were cultured in vitro for 48 h and then subjected to viability, histological, and ultrastructural analysis. No significant differences were observed among the percentages of morphologically normal follicles in cryopreserved ovarian tissue before in vitro culture (DMSO: 62.5%; DMSO + sucrose: 68.3%; DMSO + FCS: 60.0%; DMSO + sucrose + FCS: 60.0%) and after culture (DMSO: 60.8%; DMSO + sucrose: 64.2%; DMSO + FCS: 70.8%; DMSO + sucrose + FCS: 55.0%). Following in vitro culture, the viability analysis showed that only the freezing solution containing DMSO and FCS (75.6%) maintained a percentage of viable follicles similar to that observed after culture without cryopreservation (89.3%). As determined by ultrastructural analysis, morphologically normal preantral follicles were detected in the fresh control and in fragments cultured before and after cryopreservation with DMSO and FCS. Thus, a freezing solution containing DMSO and FCS, under the experimental conditions tested here, guaranteed the maintenance of viability and follicular ultrastructure after short-term in vitro culture.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryopreservation / methods*
  • Cryoprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Freezing
  • Goats
  • Ovarian Follicle / cytology
  • Ovarian Follicle / drug effects
  • Ovarian Follicle / ultrastructure*
  • Serum / metabolism*
  • Solutions
  • Tissue Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Tissue Survival / drug effects*

Substances

  • Cryoprotective Agents
  • Solutions
  • Dimethyl Sulfoxide