Supplementation of Vitrification Medium with Vanadium : Evaluation of Histological Change and Follicle Growth

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of ovary is an effective option for treatment of infertility and much effort has been made to improve the ovarian cryopreservation. OBJECTIVE: The study was to investigate the effect of vanadium in the vitrification medium on histology, viability rate and follicle growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse ovaries were vitrified in the presence of 0, 10, 100 and 250 μM vanadium (assigned as Group V₀, V₁, V₂ and V₃). After thawing, the ovaries were fixed for histological studies, mechanically isolated follicles were cultured, and then viability and growth rate of follicles were assessed. RESULTS: Vanadium supplementation to the vitrification medium significantly increased the number of morphologically normal follicles. In vitro growth and viability rate of follicles was higher in the V2 than V0 group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vanadium can improve in vitro growth and viability rate of isolated follicles from the vitrified ovaries.