EMÍLIA DA COSTA GARCIA

AUTHOR: EMÍLIA DA COSTA GARCIA

TITLE:HETEROTOPIC SELF-TRANSPLANTATION OF EQUINE OVARIAN TISSUE

ADVISOR: BENNER GERALDO ALVES

DEFENSE DATE: 02/27/2020

ABSTRACT

Ovarian tissue samples collected by biopsy pick-up method can be used to perform several studies related to fertility preservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of donor age and intramuscular (IM) and subvulvar (SVU) sites on the follicular viability, activation, and density in ovarian fragments autotransplanted. Biopsy pick-up was performed in mares (n = 7) and ovarian tissue samples were autotransplanted at IM and SVU sites by 3 or 7 days. In summary, our findings indicate that: (i) follicular viability and activation were lower in the ovarian fragments grafted at SVU site; (ii) the follicular depletion post-graft differed among animals and was not influenced by donor age; and (iii) the area of ovarian structures (antral follicles and corpus luteum) presents in the ovary at biopsy procedure had a positive effect on follicular density.