Transport of Domestic and Wild Animal Ovaries: A Review of the Effects of Medium, Temperature, and Periods of Storage on Follicular Viability.

Abstract

Short-term storage of ovaries during their transport from the collection sites to the specialized laboratories allows the recovery of thousands of oocytes from females of high genetic value, endangered species, and companion or transgenic animals, which sometimes die unexpectedly in the field, or are ovariectomized for medical reasons. Therefore, several studies have been performed to find ideal protocols to preserve oocyte viability during ovarian tissue transport, thus ensuring the success of techniques that are performed after the storage, such as cryopreservation and/or in vitro follicle culture. To achieve this goal, some factors are essential to maintain oocyte quality, such as medium, temperature, and storage time. Currently, techniques for short-term storage of ovaries have been developed for several animal species. This review aims to present the state of the art with respect to the transport of domestic and wild animal ovaries, highlighting the advantages, limitations, and prospects.