Scientists develop artificial testes from stem cells

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel have developed testes from human stem cells to help treat developmental sex disorders and infertility.

It was stated that the tiny artificial organs, produced from cells taken from mouse testes, resemble the structure and function of natural mouse testes. 

Dr. Gonen, head of the Sex Determination Laboratory at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, stated that their goals could become a reality within 5 years. 

In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Dr. Gonen said, “Fertility clinics can identify factors that cause male infertility, such as low sperm count or abnormal structure, but they could not make sense of what causes this, which genome mutations lead to this condition, or what went wrong in the functioning of the testis. Now, it will be possible to study these issues within the system of the model we have produced.” 

Biologists had previously produced organoids (three-dimensional miniature versions of immature organs) resembling brains, kidneys, and intestines from stem cells. The organoids created by Gonen's team were derived from immature testis cells taken from newborn mice. 

Dr. Gonen said, "The artificial mouse testes worked without issues for 9 weeks, which is theoretically enough time for mouse sperm to form and be released. This process also took approximately 34.5 days. Testes have two main functions: the production, storage, and maturation of sperm cells, and the synthesis of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone." 

Gonen's vision is to grow testis organoids to help young boys with cancer who cannot produce functional sperm. 

Gonen stated, "Biopsies will be taken before their treatments begin, then fertile sperm will be grown and frozen so they can be used to have children in the future." 

News Source: 12punto