Early-Stage Sperm Cells from Bone Marrow Stem Cells

Filed in archive Stem Cells on April 16, 2007

Scientists have been able to successfully culture early-stage sperm cells from mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the bone Marrow.

For the experiment, Prof Nayernia and his team took bone marrow from male volunteers and isolated the mesenchymal stem cells. These cells have previously been found to grow into other body tissues such as muscle.

They cultured these cells in the laboratory and coaxed them into becoming male reproductive cells, which are scientifically known as 'germ cells'.

Genetic markers showed the presence of partly-developed sperm cells called spermatagonial stem cells, which are an early phase of the male germ cell development.

Prof Nayernia plans to conduct further research to determine whether the spermatagonial stem cells can progress to mature sperm under laboratory conditions.

Source: Newcastle University