A comparison between a new vitrification protocol and the slow freezing method in the cryopreservation of prepubertal testicular tissue

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare a new vitrification protocol with reduced cryoprotectant exposure to the slow freezing method in the cryopreservation of prepubertal rat testicular tissue.

METHODS

Five sexually immature male Wistar rats were submitted to bilateral orchiectomy. Tissue samples from each testicle were fragmented into small pieces and randomly assigned to three groups: Group A, fresh tissue (control); Group B, slow programmable freezing (SPF); and Group C (vitrification). Frozen/thawed, vitrified/warmed, and fresh testicular tissue were histologically compared. A pathologist blinded to the procedures assessed the morphology (cell differentiation, nuclei, and epithelium) of 10 seminiferous tubules from each testicle (100 tubules per Group).

RESULTS

Sertoli and spermatogonial stem cells were easily differentiated, and the nucleoli were easily viewed in the tubules assessed in all three groups. Small alterations in tissue architecture were observed in the control group as a result of tissue handling. Moderate alterations of the epithelium with the formation of small gaps and cell detachment from the basement membrane were observed in 28% of the frozen and 9% of the vitrified tubules. Condensed nuclei involving a small proportion of cells were observed in six and three tubules of the frozen and vitrified group, respectively. Despite the alterations, 97% of the frozen and 99% of the vitrified tubules were considered well preserved.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that the vitrification protocol tested in this study adequately preserved the morphological integrity of prepubertal testicular tissue in a rat model. Further studies are required to confirm testicular tissue function after grafting.

Papillary endothelial hyperplasia of adrenal: case report

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia is a benign and rare intravascular process thought to arise from an organizing thrombus. Involvement of the adrenal gland is extremely rare, with only one case reported in the literature. We report a case of this vascular lesion in the adrenal gland, treated with laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

[Normalization of menstrual cycles and pregnancy after liver transplantation]

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effects of successful liver transplantation on menstrual cycles abnormalities and on reproductive function of women with chronic liver disease. Twelve women with age between 17 and 54 years who underwent liver transplantation were evaluated. The following variables were analyzed: age, etiology of chronic liver disease, pattern of menstrual function and period of amenorrhea before and after transplantation, and occurrence of pregnancy after transplantation. The mean age of patients was 36 +/- 12.6 years. Patients with primary biliary cirrhosis did not have menstrual abnormalities before transplantation. The other patients presented amenorrhea for 3 months to 11 years before the transplantation. Rapid recovery of menstrual function was observed in all patients after the transplantation (3.1 +/- 1.2 months). Two patients became pregnant one and three years after the transplantation. It is concluded from this study that most women who present amenorrhea secondary to chronic liver disease have normal menstrual cycles in approximately three months following liver transplantation and they may become pregnant.

Isolated tuberculosis of the pancreas after orthotopic liver transplantation

A patient presented with intermittent high fever, upper abdominal pain, and loss of appetite 9 months after an orthotopic liver transplantation. Computed tomography showed a large mass in the pancreas that was confirmed at laparotomy. Pathological examination of the pancreatic biopsy specimen showed several chronic granulomatous lesions with caseating necrosis. Two and one half months after beginning antituberculous treatment, there was an important reduction of the pancreatic mass.