Effect of cold storage and cryopreservation of immature non-human primate testicular tissue on spermatogonial stem cell potential in xenografts

BACKGROUND Successful cryopreservation of gonadal tissue is an important factor in guaranteeing the fertility preservation via germ cell or testicular tissue transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cooling and cryopreservation on spermatogonial stem cell survival and fu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human reproduction (Oxford) 2007-04, Vol.22 (4), p.1060-1067
Main Authors: Jahnukainen, Kirsi, Ehmcke, Jens, Hergenrother, Scott D., Schlatt, Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cold Temperature
cryopreservation
Cryopreservation - methods
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Macaca mulatta
Male
Medical sciences
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Mice
Mice, Nude
prepuberty
primate
Primates
Spermatocytes - metabolism
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia - cytology
Stem Cell Transplantation - methods
testis
Testis - metabolism
Time Factors
xenograft
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Summary:BACKGROUND Successful cryopreservation of gonadal tissue is an important factor in guaranteeing the fertility preservation via germ cell or testicular tissue transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cooling and cryopreservation on spermatogonial stem cell survival and function of immature non-human primate testicular tissue xenografted to nude mice. METHODS Group 1 (control group) received subcutaneous grafts of fresh immature rhesus monkey testes. The treatment groups received grafts after 24 h cooling in ice-cold medium (Group 2), after 24 h of cryopreservation without cryoprotectant (Group 3), with ethylene glycol (Group 4: 1.4 M) or with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) (group 5: 1.4 M; group 6: 0.7 M), using cooling rates of 0.5°C/min. The graft number, weight and histology were examined 3–5 months later. RESULTS After xenografting, grafts from fresh and cooled tissue showed good survival and spermatogenic induction to spermatocytes. Cryopreservation in 1.4 M DMSO also allowed grafts to initiate spermatogenesis. In contrast, 0.7 M DMSO and ethylene glycol showed inferior protection. CONCLUSIONS Our observations suggest that cryopreservation of immature primate testis is a feasible approach to maintain spermatogonial stem cells and may serve as a promising tool for fertility preservation of prepubertal boys. The possibility to delay the transplantation of cooled samples suggests an option for clinical centralization of testicular tissue cryopreservation.
ISSN:0268-1161
1460-2350
DOI:10.1093/humrep/del471