Sensation scientists design mouse sperm from stem cells

For the first time it has been possible to produce sperm, from which fertile offspring originated
A present infertility affects with its negative effects quite a few men around the world. Many infertile men have long sought ways to treat their problem. Now scientists have succeeded in artificially producing sperm from mice. As this technique evolves, it may eventually become possible for people to benefit from it.
Many couples try in vain to get a child, often this project fails because of the infertility of the man. Chinese researchers have been able to artificially produce sperm from mice during a study. If this process eventually works in humans, it could end the infertility of many men around the world. The scientists have published the results of their research in the journal "Cell Stem Cell".

Sperm designed from stem cells. Image: Tatiana Shepeleva - fotolia

Latest research could eventually end male infertility
In about one-third of all couples, who long been unsuccessful, a child, the infertility of the man is to blame, say the doctors. Chinese researchers have now succeeded in producing sperm from mice through a new reproduction technique. For this they had converted stem cells into functional sperm in a laboratory, the scientists explain. Later, these constructed sperm were injected into oocytes. From these emerged viable mice that were also able to reproduce themselves. "If this process succeeds in human stem cells, it could successfully combat male infertility," the experts add.

In some infertile men, the germ cells can not perform meiosis
There are several factors that explain the cause of male infertility. In some cases, germ cells in the testes are unable to perform critical cell division, the researchers explain. Through this so-called meiosis normally fully functional sperm can be formed. During meiosis, a single cell divides twice. Through this process, she then creates four cells that contain half of the original genetic information, say the experts. Scientists began with mouse embryonic stem cells, which are found in embryos and can develop into any type of cell in the body. "In the lab, these cells were exposed to chemicals to turn them into sperm," explain the physicians. Previous research had already generated precursors of sperm in this way. These precursors were then transplanted into the testes of mice, where they should continue to develop. "Although the precursors never became fully mature sperm, they evolved enough to fertilize eggs," the researchers add.

In the next step, the new technique will be tested on primates
In the new experiment, the researchers found that the cells performed meiosis and transformed into fully functional sperm-like cells. These were then injected into oocytes of mice. The resulting embryos later produced healthy offspring themselves, say the experts. These too were able to reproduce. This proves that our experiment has great real potential, the scientists explain.

In the future, the researchers want to test the technique on primates. However, in the new process, they must identify all the potential risks and ethical concerns that could arise from using embryonic stem cells. Only then can the procedure be tested on people, explain the researchers. Ethicists are worried that future reproductive medicine will increasingly resemble a science fiction novel. For example, scientists could use gene therapy to remove and replace defective DNA in an embryo. This technique could prevent innate impairments and other diseases in our offspring, explain the doctors. Of course, much more research is needed to apply it to humans. (As)