Abstract:

Two ovaries of the female mouse aged 30 postnatal days were autotransplanted subcutaneously in order to study the growth and secretion of the transplanted ovaries.The ovarian graft was surrounded by a thick layer of connective tissue.Follicle necrosis began on day 2.Blood cells infiltrated into the necrotic area.Four days after transplantation ,there were some primodial follicles and preantral follicles in the outer cortex of the ovary.On day 7,a few antral follicles, graffian follicles and interstitial-land-like tissue could be detected.On day 14 to 21, there were luteinic tissue in the graft.Necrosis disappeared.28 to 72 days after grafting, a lot of follicles in different stages of development, corpora luteas and interstitial glands could be found.The estrus cycle emerged 7.9±1.7 days after transplantation.This study indicates that bilaterally autotransplanted ovaries can grow and secrete sex hormones which maintain the estrus cycle.

Key words: mice, ovary transplantation, estrus cycle