Reza Asadzadeh - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
Shima Khosravi - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
Saeed Zavareh - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.. Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
Mohammad Taghi Ghorbanian - School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.. Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.

Background: One of the most major obstacles of ovarian tissue vitrification is suboptimal developmental competence of follicles. Matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 are involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the ovaries.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 genes in the preantral follicles derived from vitrified mouse ovaries.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the gene expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in the isolated preantral follicles derived from fresh and vitrified ovaries of 14-16 days old female mice through real time qRT-PCR was evaluated. Developmental parameters, including survival rate, growth, antrum formation and metaphase II oocytes were also analyzed.Results: The developmental parameters of fresh preantral follicles were significantly higher than vitrified preantral follicles. The TIMP-1 and MMP-9 expression levels showed no differences between fresh and vitrified preantral follicles (p=0.22, p=0.11 respectively). By contrast, TIMP-2 expression significantly decreased (p=0.00) and MMP-2 expression increased significantly (p=0.00) in vitrified preantral follicles compared with to fresh ones.Conclusion: Changes in expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 after ovarian tissues vitrification is partially correlated with decrease in follicle development

Vitrification, Pre antral follicles, Matrix metalloproteinases, Mouse