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Title: German Researchers Make Stem Cells into Proto-Sperm
Source:
Playfuls.com
URL Source: http://www.playfuls.com/news_006566 ... em_Cells_into_Proto_Sperm.html
Published: Apr 14, 2007
Author: Iuliu Blaga
Post Date: 2007-04-14 12:47:43 by scrapper2
Keywords: test-tube sperm, stem cell research
Views: 52
Comments: 3
A German team of researchers has announced they managed to turn adult stem cells taken from the bone marrow into primitive sperm cells in a first step towards creating artificial sperm cells. The research was published yesterday, Friday, April 13th, in the academic journal 'Reproduction: Gamete Biology'. The team, led by Dr. Karim Nayernia at the University of Gottingenin Germany, reported they extracted the bone marrow stem cells from four adult men who were about to undergo bone marrow transplants, a common treatment for cancer. Dr. Nayernia in 2006 succeeded in using sperm cells created from mouse embryonic stem cells to fertilize mice eggs, resulting in seven live births. The adult stem cells have gone through a selection, as the researchers isolated a certain type of stem cell which ormally grows into other body tissue, including muscle. Then they cultured the cells in a specific environment which was known to encourage the development of sperm cells. The environment included proteins that promote cell growth and vitamin A. They managed to obtain spermatagonial cells, also known as proto-sperm cells, which in a normal organism develop eventually into adult, viable, sperm cells. Genetic markers showed the presence of partly-developed sperm cells called spermatagonial stem cells, which are an early phase of the male germ cell development. "We're very excited about this discovery, particularly as our earlier work in mice suggests that we could develop this work even further," said Nayernia in a statement. "Our next goal is to see if we can get the spermatagonial stem cells to progress in mature sperm in the laboratory," he said. "Theoretically, it is possible," Nayernia said. "The problem is whether the sperm cells are functional or not. I don't think there is an ethical barrier, so long as it's safe." He added they are applying for the necessary authorizations to use the local bone marrow stem cell bank. Prof Nayernia says a lengthy process of scientific investigation is required within a reasonable ethical and social framework to be able to take this work to its next stage or to say if it has potential applications in terms of fertility treatments in humans. There's also the remote possibility that, if the technique will eventually be mastered, sperm could be produced from female bone marrow. Some have pointed out that lesbian couples could, this way, have their own biological daughters. However, this would have tremendous ethical consequences, should it ever be possible. It's quite obvious that females can only yield Y-chromosome sperm, which would mean it can only lead to the birth of females. However, most biologists are reluctant to believe there will be possible anytime soon to develop viable sperm cells from adult stem cells. Stem cell biologist Harry Moore at the University of Sheffield in Britain has expressed the worry that sperm created from bone stem cells could (and will) have undetectable abnormalities that could cause disease in offspring.
Poster Comment: "There's also the remote possibility that, if the technique will eventually be mastered, sperm could be produced from female bone marrow. Some have pointed out that lesbian couples could, this way, have their own biological daughters. However, this would have tremendous ethical consequences, should it ever be possible. It's quite obvious that females can only yield Y-chromosome sperm, which would mean it can only lead to the birth of females."
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