Fertility breakthrough as scientists successfully grow working ‘testicles in a dish’
BALLSY boffins have grown testicles in the laboratory for the first time — which could help to solve male infertility.
The gonads took nine weeks to cultivate and scientists say they are showing signs of being able to produce sperm.
The experts reckon the research could also help to figure out how we become male or female.
And the technique used could be harnessed to allow samples to be taken from child cancer patients to allow them to have kids later in life.
Cells used to grow the lab testicles were taken from baby mice.
But Dr Nitzan Gonen, who led the study at Israel‘s Bar-Ilan University, hopes her team will one day be able to grow human versions.
She said: “Artificial testicles are a promising model for research into disorders of sexual development and infertility.”
Around one in 14 British men are affected by infertility and half of fertility issues in couples are caused by the man, research shows.
The testicles produce and store sperm and any damage to them can affect the quality of semen, increasing the risk of infertility.
This can be caused by an infection in the testicles, testicular cancer, surgery, problems you’re born with, undescended testicles or an injury.
The study, published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences, showed it is possible to produce artificial testicles in the lab for the first time.
They were cultured from testicle cells sampled from newborn mice.
Early success
The research team realised the procedure was a success when they found the cells were organising in a similar way to how testes form in the womb.
The organoids were successfully cultured in the lab for nine weeks.
This is considered a long period of time and can, theoretically, be enough time to complete the process of sperm production and hormone secretion.
In mice this takes 34 days, so the relatively long lifespan of the organoids may allow these processes to occur in vitro.
Dr Gonen said the team has already noticed signs of the beginning of meiosis, a process in which sperm is produced.
What can cause infertility in men?
The testicles produce and store sperm.
If they’re damaged, it can seriously affect the quality of your semen.
This can happen as a result of:
- an infection of your testicles
- testicular cancer
- testicular surgery
- a problem with your testicles you were born with (a congenital defect)
- when 1 or both testicles has not descended into the scrotum (the loose sac of skin that contains your testicles (undescended testicles))
- injury to your testicles
Source: The NHS