Britain's first use of artificial sperm produced mice

United Kingdom Newcastle Durham bio-stem cell research scientists Klim • Neil Asia research group, led by the world's first artificial sperm produce mouse, this experiment is to put a definitive end to the hopes of male infertility.

Test, in mouse embryos developmental days become a blastocyst, researchers to isolate the spermatogonial stem cells for cultivation, and then select the formation of sperm, egg injection into mice, finally moved into the uterus of the female rat, results in a 7 little mouse.

Currently, this way the efficiency of artificial insemination is still very low, hundreds of grain in this mode only the fertilization of an ovum 50 to development to the embryonic stage, the last two cells only 7 mouse was born. One little mouse in just died shortly after birth, the rest of the life of small rodents are not more than 5 months, while the normal mice will last approximately two years. Prof. Neil said that this problem needs to be resolved before the human experiment. Although the experiment was only partially successful, Prof. Daniel considered that, from a biological point of view, this experimental results are still very important that scientists study how life began with animal models.

Previously United Kingdom Schaefer University researchers demonstrated that can make use of embryonic stem cells manufacture the sperm, but not for artificial fertilization experiment. The United States and Japan have proved that scientists can use stem cells to create a mouse eggs, and can be no artificial insemination, but with a little mouse.

Scientists believe that from a development perspective, the future may also be from female stem cells produce sperm from a male stem cells produce eggs. This gay families will have their own genetic material. In theory, can also use the same personal of embryonic stem cells that produce sperm and eggs, thus producing embryos. However creating "male female egg" and "fine" to overcome huge technical obstacles. Because under normal circumstances, to make the normal embryonic development, often need access to both parents of genetic material.

However, the experiment proved that scientists in the lab to create viable sperm. This makes the use of stem cell technology for the treatment of male infertility. Similarly, female infertility is also expected to receive treatment. Use of this technology, suffering from infertility in couples future possible through the use of artificial sperm or egg, a synthetic with their genetic characteristics of future generations.

Although the research is only partially successful, but the researchers said that this is their in-depth understanding of the formation of mature sperm, thereby improving infertility treatment is of great significance. At the same time, it can greatly ease the shortage of donated sperm and eggs. Researchers believe that the most promising ideas from the infertility of testicular extracts some organizations, in the laboratory to develop into a mature sperm, and then transfer it back into the patient's body.