With global male infertility rates continuing to rise today, a new study in spermatogonial stem cell research led by researchers at the University of Georgia has created hope for future clinical treatment.
The study, published recently in the journal Fertility and Sterility Science, is the first to show that functional sperm cells can be generated using primate embryonic stem cells.
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Lead researcher Charles Easley, an associate professor at the University of Georgia, said: “This is a major breakthrough in the production of stem cell-based therapies to treat male infertility in cases where men cannot produce any sperm cells.
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The researchers used embryonic stem cells from Golden monkeys to create immature sperm cells, which they showed were capable of fertilizing Golden monkey eggs. Golden Monkeys have a reproductive mechanism similar to humans, making them an "ideal and necessary model for exploring stem cell-based therapies for male infertility".
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Associate Professor Easley said scientists were able to create sperm-like cells using mouse stem cells, but rodent sperm production was different from humans. Until this work is successful, it is unclear whether this technology can work in humans? However, this scientist also added: "This is the first step showing that this technology can be applied to humans. We are using a more suitable species and are being successful in creating healthy embryos.”
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Using a new method, the researchers differentiated these cells into immature sperm cells. Like immature spermatocytes in vivo, fertilization with blastospores in vitro requires egg activation and the addition of other factors to allow the fertilized egg to develop into a healthy embryo. This year, researchers plan to take the important next step of transplanting these embryos into a representative cynomolgus macaque to test whether these embryos can give birth to a healthy baby. or not? If this research step is successful, the team will perform the same procedure using sperm-like cells derived from monkey skin cells.
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Collaborators include Jon Hennebold from the Oregon National Primate Research Center and Kyle Orwig and Gerald Schatten from the University of Pittsburgh.
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Source of article:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211019223238.htm
Referral: Sujittra Khampang, In Ki Cho, Kanchana Punyawai, Brittany Gill, Jacqueline N. Langmo, Shivangi Nath, Katherine W. Greeson, Krista M. Symosko, Kristen L. Fowler, Siran Tian, John P. Statz, Alyse N. Steves, Rangsun Parnpai, Michael A. White, Jon D. Hennebold, Kyle E. Orwig, Calvin R. Simerly, Gerald Schatten, Charles A. Easley. Blastocyst Development after Fertilization with in vitro Spermatids Derived from Non-Human Primate Embryonic Stem Cells. F&S Science, 2021; DOI: 10.1016/j.xfss.2021.09.001
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Translator: Ngoc Anh - Phacogen Institute of Techonology;
(Master of Experimental Biology. University of Natural Sciences - Hanoi National University)
