Objective: To develop electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry as a tool to characterize the oxygen environment in human ovarian xenografts in the early postgrafting period.
Design: Prospective experimental study.
Setting: Gynecology research unit in a university hospital.
Patient(s): Biopsies were obtained from 6 women aged 22-35 years.
Intervention(s): Frozen-thawed human ovarian tissue fragments were grafted to an intraperitoneal site in nude mice. Before grafting, lithium phthalocyanine, an oxygen reporter, was implanted inside the fragments.
Main outcome measure(s): To monitor partial pressure of oxygen (pO(2)) by EPR on postgrafting days 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21 and validate the technique by histologic assessment.
Result(s): A period of hypoxia was identified before day 5, followed by gradual but significant oxygenation over the next 5 days, suggesting an active process of graft revascularization. Reoxygenation kinetics in human ovarian xenotransplants were quantified.
Conclusion(s): Our data validated the EPR oximetry technique as a tool to monitor pO(2) in ovarian grafting. The critical early period of hypoxia was identified, and the first steps of reoxygenation were characterized. In the future, our model may be used to evaluate new freezing and grafting protocols with the aim of reducing potential cryoinjury and initial ischemia-reperfusion damage.