Live Offspring from Back Muscle Ovarian Allografts in Mice

Aims: to study the developmental potential of oocytes retrieved from back muscle ovarian grafts in mice. methods: ovaries of 12-day old fl female hybrid mice (c57bl/6jxcba/ca) were allografted into the back muscle of 8 recipient mice. one week after grafting, ovarian stimulation was started with ip injection of 1iu fsh, given every second day for two weeks. finally two doses of 5iu fsh were given followed by 5iu hcg 48 hrs later. another 14 hours later all animals were autopsied and grafts with their surroundings were recovered. oocytes were scored for maturity (gv, mi, mil). gv oocytes (n= 6) were not further included here. mi oocytes (n= 15) were submitted to ivm and icsi. oocytes that were already mil at collection (n= 19) were fertilized either by ivf (n= 10) or icsi (n= 9). embryos at the morula stage were transferred to pseudopregnant recipient mice. results: of the 15 mi oocytes 14 became mil (93%). after icsi, 7 (50%) developed to the morula stage. of the 19 oocytes that were mil at collection, 5 out of 9 (56%) developed to the morula stage after icsi and 6 out of 10 (60%) after ivf. all 12 icsi embryos were transferred to one mouse and all 6 ivf embryos to another. three live born fetuses were obtained in the icsi group (25%). in the ivf group 4 fetuses were born (67%), one died and one showed placental anomalies. conclusions: live offspring was obtained from oocytes of back muscle ovarian allografts in mouse using both ivf and icsi.