Ovarian Tissue Transplantation in Mice and Rats: Comparison of Ovaries Age

Transplantation of ovarian tissue has been shown to induce puberty and pregnancies successfully. The aims of the present study were to evaluate ovaries age effect on restoration function upon transplantation in mice and rats. Eighteen adult female rats were classified to three equal groups in addition to sex young females as donor of young ovaries. Similar classification was done using eighteen female mice and sex young females. The females of mice or rats were anesthetized for ovarian transplantation using (6.2 and 13.2 mg/kg BW) and (13.3 and 26.6 mg/kg BW) diazepam and xylazine, respectively. The female of control group was subjected to sham operation whereas the other two groups were subjected to ovarian transplantation from adult to adult and (adult-adult) and from young to adult (young-adult). After 8 weeks of ovarian transplantation, the females were mated with vasectomized males and were checked daily for vaginal plug. Females were killed for morphological and histological examination of transplanted ovaries. Blood samples were taken for analysis of complete blood picture. The results indicated presence of a neovascular capillary network around transplanted ovarian tissues. In addition, visible antral follicles and corpora lutea was demonstrated on the ovarian tissues upon transplantation. Histological examination indicated that transplanted young ovarian tissues restored function better than elder ones. It could be concluded that unilateral ovarian transplantation partially restored their developmental competence for producing ova. Such result might be helpful in assisted reproductive studies for treatment of infertility and conservation of species.