Restoration of Endocrine Function and Fertility with Orthotopic Tubal—Ovarian Allotransplant as the Anatomical-Functional Unit in Rabbits

Abstract

The aim of this study was to re-establish endocrine and reproductive function in tubal-ovariectomized rabbits using orthotopic tubal–ovary allotransplants (OT-OA). Fifty-five New Zealand White nonconsanguineous rabbits were used and allocated into five experimental groups: Each group comprised donors submitted to right salpingo-oophorectomy that served as the donated allograft. In group 1 no cyclosporin (CsA) was administered and rabbits were submitted to left salpingo-oophorectomy (LSO). Group 2 was the allotransplant group and did not receive CsA. Group 3 was the allotransplant group with CsA. They were submitted to bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by OT-OA. CsA of 10 mg/kg/day was administered to rabbits for the first 21 days and 5 mg/kg/day for the remainder of the study. Group 4 received CsA just as for group 3 and was submitted to LSO. During the study the following were measured: estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and histopathological study of the uteri, tubes, and ovaries. Groups 1, 3, and 4 showed a significant increase in serum E2 and P4 levels corresponding to the second week of gestation, compared to group 2 (p < < x >.05). < i > Group < /i > 2 < i > showedasignificantincreaseinserumLHandFSHlevelsduringweek < /i > 10 < i > comparedtoserumLHandFSHlevelsingroups < /i > 1, 3, < i > and < /i > 4 (< /x > p <.05). In group 3, three rabbits did not reject the allotransplant, one rabbit became pregnant, and endocrine function was re-established in two rabbits. It can be concluded that OT-OA together with CsA administration re-establishes endocrine function and fertility.