LONDON: In a major breakthrough, scientists have successfully fertilized eggs of mice with sperms created in laboratory from embryonic stem cells. The researchers used the laboratory-developed sperm to give birth to seven mice, according to a study published Tuesday.
The scientists were able to isolate stem cells from very early mouse embryos and develop early-stage sperm cells from them, which were then taken through various developmental stages until they grew to become what is called gametes. The gametes were then injected into mouse eggs and the embryos that formed were transplanted into female mice.
Six of he mice born had grown into adults, the study said. But, three had abnormalities, such as being too large or small, and had died.
Prof Karim Nayernia, who headed the scientists' team at the University of Gottingen in Germany, said this is the first time it is shown that it is possible to make mature sperm from stem cells.
He said the research is particularly important in helping to understand more about the biological process by which sperm is produced. "We must know this if we are to get to the root of infertility."
Nayernia, now working at Newcastle University in England, has been engaged in the research for three years. His team had created 400 embryos but only a handful could transform into live mice. The findings have been reported in the latest issue of the journal Developmental Cell.
The work can be precursor to scientific experiments to grow fully functional human sperm from scratch, which has the potential to treat male infertility, according to observers.
Stem cells are master cells in the body, which have the capability to transform themselves into other cell types. These could act as a repair system of the body and could become modes of treatment for several illnesses. It has been established that stem cells found in early embryos have the greatest therapeutic potential.
The medical fraternity has hailed the breakthrough, saying it could one day lead to infertile men undergoing "sperm transplants", which can facilitate the birth of their own biological child rather than having to use donated sperms.
Scientists believe in the days to come cloning methods can be used to turn a skin cell from a man into sperm cells. Nayernia himself said it was even possible that it could be achieved using a cell from a woman.
In the past, scientists have succeeded in generating sperms and even eggs from stem cells, but this is the first time that the research could result in live births.
