Assessment of canine ovaries autografted to various body sites.

The influence of graft site on the survival of canine follicles and oocytes after autografting was investigated. Hemi-ovaries were autografted to three locations (quadriceps femoris muscle fascia, kidney capsule, and gastrosplenic ligament), and grafted ovaries were recovered (under anesthesia) 28 to 31 d after transplantation. The grafted hemi-ovaries were bisected: one-quarter ovary was used for histological assessment and another quarter for evaluation of oocyte viability. As controls, the remaining fresh hemi-ovaries were used to assess the viability of follicles and oocytes in non-transplanted ovaries. Most follicles in the histological sections of the grafts were classified as primordial or primary follicles. Antral follicles were not observed in the grafts, irrespective of the graft site. The percentages of viable follicles in the sections from control ovaries, and the ovaries grafted to the kidney capsule, the quadriceps femoris muscle fascia, and the gastrosplenic ligament were 17.4, 22.9, 18.3, and 32.4%, respectively. A total of 12 oocytes was recovered from the 15 hemi-ovaries grafted in five bitches, of which five (41.7%) oocytes from the ovaries grafted to the quadriceps femoris muscle fascia and the kidney capsule were cultured for assessment of meiotic competence. Three oocytes were viable but remained in the germinal vesicle stage after 72 h of maturation culture. The quadriceps femoris muscle fascia might be useful for grafting like the kidney capsule, but improvement of follicle survival and meiotic competence of oocytes in the grafts is necessary.

Computer simulation of the distal aspect of the femur for assessment of donor core size and surface curvature for autologous osteochondral transplantation in the canine stifle joint.

OBJECTIVE: To report topographic matching of selected donor sites and donor core sizes for congruous reconstruction of the weight-bearing aspect of the femoral condyles in dogs for autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) using computer simulation. STUDY DESIGN: Computer simulation. SAMPLE POPULATION: Computed tomographic scans of the distal aspect of 1 femur from each of 6 mature dogs (>20 kg). METHODS: Three-dimensional surface models of the distal femora were constructed for virtual AOT. Different donor sites (n=15) within and outside the femoropatellar joint and 5 transplant sizes (diameters 3.5, 4.5, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0 mm) were analyzed with respect to their topographic match with the articular surface of both femoral condyles. RESULTS: Transplants from the proximal abaxial aspect of the medial condyle and from the abaxial aspects of the medial and lateral trochlear ridges were the best topographic match. Mismatch increased linearly with increasing core diameter. Small core diameters (3.5 mm, 4.5 mm) from within the femoropatellar joint allowed restoration of surface contour at both femoral condyles similar to large core diameters (6 mm, 8 mm) from outside the femoropatellar joint. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this computer simulation, large core diameters should only be harvested from convex donor sites outside the femoropatellar joint, whereas transplants from the concave, axial aspects of the trochlear ridges may result in similar topographic match provided they are of small diameter. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The abaxial aspect of the medial trochlear ridge and the proximal aspect of the medial femoral condyle appear to be the preferred AOT donor sites.

Long-term follow-up of cryopreserved hemi-ovary autografts in ewes: pregnancies, births, and histologic assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a 2-year follow-up of cryopreserved hemi-ovary autografts in ewes. DESIGN: Animal study. SERTTING: University fertility center, Hospices Civils de Lyon; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon, INSERM U 418 Hocaron;pital Debrousse, Lyon; and Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France. PATIENT(S): Grivette ewes. INTERVENTION(S): Recently we reported four pregnancies and six live births after transplantation of frozen-thawed hemi-ovary in six different ewes. The four remaining ewes were monitored for 2 years. After the last birth, the autografted ovary was removed in each ewe during a final laparotomy. The entire grafted ovary was sliced to estimate the remaining primordial follicle population 2 years after grafting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Uterine ultrasound scanning was performed to diagnose pregnancy. Histological assessment of the grafted ovary was performed after delivery. RESULT(S): The four remaining ewes began new gestations. For two of them, this was a second gestation obtained more than 2 years after the autograft. These two ewes delivered male lambs, which died immediately after delivery because of distocia. The lambs were both oversized for gestational age; autopsy found no malformation. A twin pregnancy of a healthy male and a healthy female occurred in May 2002, and a singleton male was born in February 2002. All grafted ovaries showed drastic reduction in follicle population. CONCLUSION(S): Frozen-thawed ovary autograft allowed recovery of fertility a very long time after the procedure despite a drastic reduction in the total number of follicles.