The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Model as a Tool to Study Ovarian Tissue Transplantation

Summary

Here, we describe a protocol for developing a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) xenografting model for human ovarian tissue and demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique, the graft revascularization time frame, and the tissue viability across a 6 day grafting period.

Abstract

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation is an effective strategy for preserving fertility but has one major drawback, namely massive follicle loss occurring shortly after reimplantation due to abnormal follicle activation and death. Rodents are benchmark models for investigating follicle activation, but the cost, time, and ethical considerations are becoming increasingly prohibitive, thus driving the development of alternatives. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model is particularly attractive, being inexpensive and maintaining natural immunodeficiency up to day 17 postfertilization, making it ideal to study short-term xenografting of human ovarian tissue. The CAM is also highly vascularized and has been widely used as a model to explore angiogenesis. This gives it a remarkable advantage over in vitro models and allows the investigation of mechanisms affecting the early post-grafting follicle loss process. The protocol outlined herein aims to describe the development of a CAM xenografting model for human ovarian tissue, with specific insights into the effectiveness of the technique, the graft revascularization time frame, and the tissue viability across a 6 day grafting period.

Introduction

The demand for fertility preservation for oncological and benign indications, as well as social reasons, has dramatically increased over recent decades. However, various treatments used to cure malignant and non-malignant diseases are highly toxic to the gonads and can result in iatrogenic premature ovarian insufficiency, ultimately leading to infertility¹. Established techniques for fertility preservation include embryo cryopreservation, immature or mature oocyte vitrification, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation^2,3,4. Ovarian ti....

Protocol

The use of human tissue was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Catholic University of Louvain. The patients gave their written informed consent for the use of their ovarian tissue for research purposes.

1. Ordering day 0 eggs that are highly likely to be embryonated

1. Find a certified laboratory-grade Lohman-selected white Leghorn egg supplier that reports high rates of embryonated eggs, which is primarily dependent on the age of the chicks.

2. Preparing the eggs for incubation

1. Prior to the arrival of the eggs, assemble and equilibrate ....

Results

Chick embryo survival rates
The embryo survival rate from windowing (day 3 of ED) to ovarian tissue grafting (day 7 of ED) was 79% (33/42). Since the percentage of embryonated day 0 eggs is unknown, supernumerary day 0 eggs from Lohman-selected white Leghorn chickens were ordered to ensure sufficient embryonated eggs would be available for grafting. A total of 23 viable day 7 eggs were used for grafting, one of which perished during the first 24 h, resulting in an overall embryo survival rate of 96% .......

Discussion

The most challenging part of the protocol described here is making the small hole required to aspirate the albumen in order to detach the CAM from the eggshell prior to creating a window. Applying too much pressure can result in overpenetration or may even crack and destroy the egg, causing irrevocable damage to the CAM and its vasculature. To keep mistakes to a minimum during initial attempts to separate the CAM, it is strongly advised to practice making small holes in the eggshell of non-fertilized, grocery-bought eggs.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Agani hypodermic needle, 19 G	Terumo Europe	AN*1950R1	19 G needle to aspirate albumen
Terumo syringe, 5 mL concentric Luer lock	Terumo Europe	SS*05LE1	5-mL sterile syringe
Caseviewer v2.2	3DHISTECH		Image analysis software
Diethyl ether	Merck Chemicals	603-022-00-4	Sterile ether to traumatize the CAM
Eosin Y aqueous solution 0.5%	Merck	1098441000	Staining solution
Formaldehyde 4% aqueous solution buffered (Formalin 10%)	VWR	97139010	Formaldehyde used for tissue fixation
Fridge	Liebherr	7081260	Fridge at 4 °C used for paraffin-embedding
Heating plate	Schott	SLK2	Hot plate used to dry the slides
Incubator	Thermo Forma Scientific 3111	10365156	Oven used for slide incubation
Leica CLS 150 XE microscope cold light source	Leica	CLS 150 XE	Focal cold light source to candle the eggs
Lens cleaning tissue, grade 541	VWR	111-5003	Tissue to soak in sterile ether to traumatize the CAM
Mayer's hematoxylin	MERCK	1092491000	Staining solution
Methanol	VWR	20847307	Methanol
Microtome	ThermoScientific-MICROM	HM325-2	Microtome
Pannoramic P250 Flash III	3DHISTECH	/	Slide scanner at 20x magnification
Paraformaldehyde	Merck	1,04,00,51,000	Paraffin-embedding solution
Paraplast Plus R	Sigma	P3683-1KG	Paraffin
Petri dish, 60x15 mm, sterile	Greiner	628161	Sterile petri dish
Pin holder	Fine Science Tools	26016-12	Pin holder
Polyhatch	Brinsea	CP01F	Egg incubator with automatic rotator
Scroll saw blade, 132 mm	Sencys	/	Saw blade to create a window in the eggshell
Stainless steel insert pins	Fine Science Tools	26007-02	Straight pin to make a hole in the eggshell
Steril-Helios	Angelantoni Industrie	ST-00275400000	Laminar flow hood
Superfrost Plus bords rodés 90°	VWR	631-9483	Glass slides
Tissue-Tek VIP 6Al	Sakura	60320417-0711 VID6E3-1	Automatic embedding device
Titanium forceps	Fine Science Tools	11602-16	Forceps for eggshell removal and ovarian tissue manipulation
Toluene, pa	VWR	28701364	Paraffin-embedding solution