Abstract: Objective：To evaluate the effect of solid-surface vitrification （ＳＳＶ） and slow-freezing on methylation profile of imprinted gene IGF-2/H19 DMR, and its effect on the expression of these two genes in follicles embedding in ovarian tissue. Methods：Human ovarian slices from 15 patients were randomly allocated to Fresh，SF and SSV groups. The methylation profile of imprinted gene IGF-2/H19 was assessed by MS-PCR. The expressions of IGF-2 protein and H19 RNA in follicles embedding in ovarian tissue from different groups were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results：The methylation of ovarian tissue in F， SF and SSV group was 26.46%， 41.02% and 33.09%， respectively. The SSV and SF groups did not show significantly difference（P＞0.05）. The expressions of IGF-2 protein and H19 RNA in primordial and primary follicles among F， SF and SSV groups did not show significantly difference （P＞0.05）. Conclusions：There was evidence at present to indicate that cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue had adverse effect on the methylation profile of imprinted gene IGF-2/H19.

Key words: Ovary, Cryopreservation, Methylation, Genes, Reproductive techniques, assisted