@article {88083,
	title = {In search of signaling pathways critical for ovarian graft reception: Akt1 is essential for long-term survival of ovarian grafts},
	journal = {Fertil Steril},
	volume = {101},
	year = {2014},
	month = {2014 Feb},
	pages = {536-44},
	abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of Akt1, a principle modulator of angiogenesis, in ovarian graft reception and to investigate whether Akt1 deficiency can alter ovarian graft reception.

DESIGN: Experimental mouse model.

SETTING: Research institute.

ANIMAL(S): Donors: Akt1 knockout (Akt1(-/-)) and wild types (Akt1(+/+)) mice. Recipients: CD-1 nude immune deficient female mice.

INTERVENTION(S): Ovaries from Akt1(-/-) and Akt1(+/+) mice transplanted in the biceps femoris muscle of immunocompromised CD-1 mice, and ovarian graft viability, perfusion, and revascularization explored in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Vascular density and permeability of newly formed graft blood vessels quantified by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI 7, 14, 30, and 60 days after grafting as indicators for angiogenesis and reestablishment of blood perfusion.

RESULT(S): The Akt1(-/-) ovarian grafts showed a gradual decrease in angiogenic response with time after transplantation, ultimately leading to complete or near-complete graft destruction coinciding with massive follicular loss. Sixty days after transplantation, the mean blood volume fraction (fBV) and vessel permeability (PS) were statistically significantly lower in Akt1(-/-) transplants compared with Akt1(+/+).

CONCLUSION(S): Akt1 is essential for ovarian graft reception. However, surprisingly the impact of Akt1 deficiency was most profound not in the early stages of angiogenesis but rather in long-term survival of the graft.},
	keywords = {Animals, Female, Graft Survival, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Mice, Nude, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Ovary, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt, Signal Transduction, Time Factors},
	issn = {1556-5653},
	doi = {10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.10.007},
	author = {Cohen, Yoni and Dafni, Hagit and Avni, Reut and Raz, Tal and Biton, Inbal and Hemmings, Brian and Neeman, Michal}
}
