Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions
Recent developments in stem cell technologies have made significant advancements in the field of in vitro gametogenesis. In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is a promising technology where functional gametes (sperm or egg cells) can be generated from stem cells. Scientists have made continuous advancements...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Reproductive Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3897/4/3/20 |
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| author | In Ki Cho Charles A. Easley |
| author_facet | In Ki Cho Charles A. Easley |
| author_sort | In Ki Cho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent developments in stem cell technologies have made significant advancements in the field of in vitro gametogenesis. In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is a promising technology where functional gametes (sperm or egg cells) can be generated from stem cells. Scientists have made continuous advancements in the field and successfully derived fully functional sperm from stem cells in mice. Two recent papers generated excitement in IVG by generating bi-maternal and bi-paternal mice from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). IVG is a promising technology with potential applications that include infertility treatment, fertility preservation, same-sex reproduction, bypassing oocyte depletion in women with advanced age, conservation biology, genetic disorder prevention, and research into human germ cell development. In vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) is the attempt to recreate the process of spermatogenesis in a culture system. Spermatogenesis is essential for male fertility and reproductive health, but it can be impaired by various factors such as genetic defects, environmental toxicants, infections, aging, or medical therapies. Spermatogenesis is a complex and highly regulated process involving multiple cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation stages. The main challenges of IVS are to provide a suitable microenvironment that mimics the testis in vivo, to support the survival and development of all the cell types involved in spermatogenesis, and to achieve complete and functional spermatogenesis. Therefore, there is a great interest in developing methods to study spermatogenesis in vitro, both for basic research and clinical applications. This review covers recent developments in in vitro spermatogenesis in the past two years. Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have introduced techniques like ex vivo tissue culture and technologies such as bioreactors, microfluidic systems, and organoids. Bioreactors and microfluidic systems replicate physiological conditions for tissue and cell cultivation, while organoids model organ functionality. Meanwhile, scaffolds, made from various materials, provide essential structural support, guiding the growth and organization of cells into functional tissues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:04:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29a2926bee744314a32844a52602024c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3897 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:04:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reproductive Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-29a2926bee744314a32844a52602024c2023-11-19T12:50:55ZengMDPI AGReproductive Medicine2673-38972023-09-014321523210.3390/reprodmed4030020Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future DirectionsIn Ki Cho0Charles A. Easley1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USARecent developments in stem cell technologies have made significant advancements in the field of in vitro gametogenesis. In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is a promising technology where functional gametes (sperm or egg cells) can be generated from stem cells. Scientists have made continuous advancements in the field and successfully derived fully functional sperm from stem cells in mice. Two recent papers generated excitement in IVG by generating bi-maternal and bi-paternal mice from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). IVG is a promising technology with potential applications that include infertility treatment, fertility preservation, same-sex reproduction, bypassing oocyte depletion in women with advanced age, conservation biology, genetic disorder prevention, and research into human germ cell development. In vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) is the attempt to recreate the process of spermatogenesis in a culture system. Spermatogenesis is essential for male fertility and reproductive health, but it can be impaired by various factors such as genetic defects, environmental toxicants, infections, aging, or medical therapies. Spermatogenesis is a complex and highly regulated process involving multiple cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation stages. The main challenges of IVS are to provide a suitable microenvironment that mimics the testis in vivo, to support the survival and development of all the cell types involved in spermatogenesis, and to achieve complete and functional spermatogenesis. Therefore, there is a great interest in developing methods to study spermatogenesis in vitro, both for basic research and clinical applications. This review covers recent developments in in vitro spermatogenesis in the past two years. Advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have introduced techniques like ex vivo tissue culture and technologies such as bioreactors, microfluidic systems, and organoids. Bioreactors and microfluidic systems replicate physiological conditions for tissue and cell cultivation, while organoids model organ functionality. Meanwhile, scaffolds, made from various materials, provide essential structural support, guiding the growth and organization of cells into functional tissues.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3897/4/3/20in vitro spermatogenesisspermatogonial stem cellstissue engineeringregenerative medicinebioreactorsmicrofluidic systems |
| spellingShingle | In Ki Cho Charles A. Easley Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions Reproductive Medicine in vitro spermatogenesis spermatogonial stem cells tissue engineering regenerative medicine bioreactors microfluidic systems |
| title | Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions |
| title_full | Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions |
| title_short | Recent Developments in In Vitro Spermatogenesis and Future Directions |
| title_sort | recent developments in in vitro spermatogenesis and future directions |
| topic | in vitro spermatogenesis spermatogonial stem cells tissue engineering regenerative medicine bioreactors microfluidic systems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3897/4/3/20 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT inkicho recentdevelopmentsininvitrospermatogenesisandfuturedirections AT charlesaeasley recentdevelopmentsininvitrospermatogenesisandfuturedirections |