In ovo culturing of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) ovarian tissue to assess graft viability and maturation of prefollicular germ cells and follicles

Biobanking of turkey ovarian tissue appears to be the most cost-effective method for the long-term preservation of female genetics. However, to ensure the successful transplantation of biobanked ovarian tissue for breed or line revival, the transplantation and development of fresh ovarian tissue must be evaluated. To assess transplantability, ovaries from poults 1 to 15\ua0days posthatch (dph) were cultured\ua0in ovo\ua0in chicken eggs for 6\ua0d and compared with the equivalent fresh tissue. The viability of cultured ovarian tissue was evaluated visually, whereas the level of late-stage apoptosis was measured via the TUNEL assay. In addition, the diameter and density of prefollicular germ cells and follicles (primordial and primary) were measured to assess maturation. Results showed that all cultured grafts (74/74), on surviving chicken chorioallantoic membrane, were viable with low levels (0.8\ua0±\ua00.1%) of late-stage apoptosis. The diameter of prefollicular germ cells in cultured ovaries from poults at 5 and 7 dph were larger (P\ua