A new technique to produce human sperm in the laboratory from embryonic stem cells with XY chromosomes (male). Those responsible for this finding are researchers at the University of Newcastle and the NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute, the United Kingdom, led by Professor Karim Nayernia.
Semen will not be used for fertilization of eggs, since British law does not authorize. Scientists hope, however, that the law evolves as rapidly enough that the technique is validated as a treatment for male infertility.
When the technique is perfected, Nayernia believes it could, in ten years, for example, be offered to children who are undergoing chemotherapy, which currently makes them sterile. "This is an important development as it allows researchers to carefully consider how to create sperm, which should lead to a better understanding of male infertility, for what happened and what is the cause," the professor said. "This understanding will enable us to develop new ways to help couples who suffer from infertility, so that they can have a child that is genetically theirs," he added. This discovery should also help to better understand how genetic diseases are passed from generation to generation.
The procedure devised by the British researchers make stem cells with XY chromosomes complete their cell division (meiosis) and producing a functional sperm. In contrast, cells with chromosomes XX (female) resulting in spermatogonia, the initial phase of sperm, for instance in meiosis. This demonstrates that the Y chromosome is essential for sperm production.
