Tissue Dimensions Affect Follicle Survival and the Development of in Vitro Human Ovarian Culture

Objective: To determine the relationship between ovarian cortical tissue dimensions and the growth and survival of human primordial follicles in vitro. Design: Human study. Setting: Research laboratory of university hospital. Patient(s): Women undergoing benign gynaecological procedures. Intervention(s): Fresh ovarian cortical tissues were removed and cut into 32 smaller pieces of various sizes/shapes and 22 were cultured in serum-free medium for 7 days. Main outcome measure(s): Follicle viability, density and growth potential assessed by histology. Result(s): Strong correlations were observed between the density-weighted shape descriptor and the reciprocals of viability and growth ratio. Conclusion(s): The correlation between follicular surface area and viability/development suggests the use of the smallest practical size as the most efficient way to maximise follicular viability and growth potential. Our mathematical model may also provide an analytical technique for future research relating to in vitro tissue culture.