effect of human ovarian tissue vitrification/warming on the expression of genes related to folliculogenesis

background: ovarian tissue cryopreservation is an alternative strategy to preserve the fertility of women predicted to undergo premature ovarian failure. this study was designed to evaluate the expression of folliculogenesis-related genes, including factor in the germline alpha (figla), growth differentiation factor-9 (gdf-9), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (fshr), and kit ligand after vitrification/warming of human ovarian tissue. methods: human ovarian tissue samples were collected from five transsexual women. in the laboratory, the ovarian medullary part was removed by a surgical blade, and the cortical tissue was cut into small pieces. some pieces were vitrified and warmed and the others were considered as non-vitrified group (control). follicular normality was assessed with morphological observation by a light microscope, and the expression of figla, kit ligand, gdf-9,, and fshr genes was examined using real-time rt-pcr in both the vitrified and non-vitrified groups. results: overall, 85% of the follicles preserved their normal morphologic feature after warming. the percentage of normal follicles and the expression of figla, kit ligand, gdf-9, and fshr genes were similar in both vitrified and non-vitrified groups (p > 0.05). conclusion: vitrification/warming of human ovarian tissue had no remarkable effect on the expression of folliculogenesis-related genes.