Developments in laboratory controlled sperm growth

Scientists have successfully grown sperm in a laboratory in a development that could lead to a routine procedure for males who suffer from fertility problems.

Sperm could be grown in the future by extracting tissue containing germ cells from a man’s testicle and stimulating sperm production in the laboratory.

The scientists, led by Professor Stefan Schlatt from Germany’s Muenster University, used just a few cells to reproduce mice sperm. The team have yet to receive positive data from human cells, but are confident that if the procedure can work in mice then it should be able to work in humans.

The scientists recreated conditions similar to those found in the testicle by surrounding germ cells by agar jelly and grown in an environment with a temperature that was just below the normal body temperature.

Commenting on the research, one Israeli team member, Prof. Mahmoud Huleihel, said: “I believe it will eventually be possible to routinely grow human male sperm to order by extracting tissue containing germ cells from a man’s testicle and stimulating sperm production in the laboratory.”