Uterus Cryopreservation: Maintenance of Uterine Contractility by the Use of Different Cryoprotocols

Abstract

Cryopreservation of cells and even tissue is feasible. New exciting findings arise in the promising field of cryobiology, e.g. the cryopreservation of whole ovaries. Uterus cryopreservation would be advantageous not only for experimental biology, but also for transplantation surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate various cryopreservation protocols as well as various storage temperatures in cryopreservation of whole swine uteri. The used freezing protocol was slow (0.2 degrees C/min) after arterial perfusion with 1%, 5% or 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution for 10 min and equilibration in this solution for 30 min. Viability of the organs was tested by histological examination, biochemical parameters and by the capability of rhythmical contractions in a perfusion system. Eighty swine uteri were cryopreserved. All uteri that were frozen with 10% and 5% DMSO were viable after thawing for at least 1 h, whereas only 40% survived with the use of 1% DMSO and 0% with the use of 0.5% DMSO, respectively. There was no difference regarding the survival rates after various cryostorage periods for up to 16 weeks or after cryostorage for 2 weeks in -70 degrees C or -130 degrees C. The cryopreservation of a whole organ such as the swine uterus is a valuable method for the study of cryoprotective agents and freezing protocols. This study demonstrates clearly that the perfusion of the organ with cryoprotectants is the only factor which allows the uterus to contract.

A new surgical technique of uterine auto-transplantation in cynomolgus monkey: preliminary report about two cases

“…Regarding the uterus cryopreservation, there has been a recent report that uterus cryopreservation improves the availability of uterus for transplantations purposes in the future [35]. Long-term preservation of uterus can, therefore, be important not only for restoring fertility, but also for transplantation surgery.…”

Cryopreservation of Porcine Gametes, Embryos and Genital Tissues: State of the Art

“…Porcine whole uteri were arterially perfused with CPA (DMSO) prior to slow controlled freezing. Rewarmed tissues were able to present live cells 7 h post rewarming (Dittrich et al 2006) and even to demonstrate contractility in vitro 60 min post-rewarming (Dittrich et al 2010). As such, comparative analyses of equilibrium freezing and vitrification procedures have involved pig ovarian fragments (Gandolfi et al 2006, Borges et al 2009, or whole ovaries (Imhof et al 2004).…”

The Key Role of Warm and Cold Ischemia in Uterus Transplantation: A Review

“…By contrast, only 40% of uteri were contractile for 1% DMSO and none were contractile for 0.5% DMSO. No histological alterations to the uterus were detected when 5% or 10% DMSO was added to the cryoprotective solution [43].…”