Japanese scientists make sperm from mouse pluripotent stem cells that lead to healthy, fertile offspring                  image:&

Babies wanted: Males need not apply

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2021-09-07 17:00:08

Japanese scientists make sperm from mouse pluripotent stem cells that lead to healthy, fertile offspring

image: Immunofluorescence analysis. Frozen sections of 52-day-old samples cultured by the in vitro sperm induction method were immunostained to confirm the formation of sperm. Red indicates GSCLC markers, green indicates sperm markers, and white indicates nuclei. view more 

For species that rely on sexual reproduction, including mice and men, offspring can only happen if sperm from the male fertilize eggs from the female. Even artificial fertilization techniques depend on donors for both of these cells. However, a new study led by ASHBi researchers shows that mouse pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into functional sperm. These sperm were successfully used to produce healthy, fertile offspring and provide the most comprehensive model yet for generating male germ cells in a test tube.

Pluripotent stem cells have allowed scientists to study how each and every cell in the body is formed. Brain cells, heart cells, and livers cells are just some examples of the cell types made from these stem cells and now being used in patients as experimental cell therapies. However, some cell types remain difficult to make from pluripotent stem cells, particularly sperm cells.

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