Scientists 3D Printed Human Testicular Cells

Scientists in Canada British Columbia (UBC) use 3D technology to print out human testicular cells and find that they have the early signs of the sperm to produce sperm, which is the first time in the world. The research team of Dr. Ryan Flannigan, Assistant Professor of UBC Urology Assistant, has a one-day, which provides a solution for patients who are currently unable to treat.

"15 percent of the couple suffer from infertility, at least half of them is caused by male factors." Flannigan said its laboratory established a Vancouver's prostate center in Vancouver General Hospital. We are printing testicular cells into a special structure that imitates the human anatomy with 3D printing technology, which we believe this is the best way to stimulate sperm generation. "Flannigan said, if success, this will open the new birth treatment door for those who have no other choice.

In human testicles, sperm is produced by a small tube called a fine tube. In the most severe male infertility-non-obstructive non-sperm disease (NOA), sperm is found in ejaculation due to the reduction in sperm produced by these small tube structures. Although in some cases, the doctor can help NOA patients find extremely rare sperm by surgery, but Flannigan said only half of the success rate.

"Unfortunately, for the other half of patients, they have no choices, because we can't find sperm for them." Flannigan said, these is the patient who wants to help. In recent studies, researchers conducted biopsy for testis of NOA patients and collected stem cells. These cells were then cultured, and 3D was printed into a hollow tubular structure on the petri dish, similar to the fine elipes capable of producing sperm.

After 12 days, the research team found that these cells did not only survive, but also growing several special cells participating in sperm production, and there was significant improvements in the maintenance of stem cells - this is the early signs of sperm production capacity. The results of this study were recently published in "Plastic and Infertility Science".

"These cells survive and start differentiation, which is a huge milestone. Although there is still a long way to go, this makes our team full of hope." Flannigan said.

The team is currently committed to the "training" cells producing sperm. In order to do this, they exposed cells in different nutrients and growth factors, and fine-tuned their structural arrangements to promote interaction between cells. If these cells can produce sperm, these sperm may pass through in vitro fertilization Make the egg fertilization and provide a new birth treatment option for the couple.

The research project also reveals the genetic and molecular mechanisms that lead to NOA. The Flannigan team has been using a variety of single-cell sequencing techniques to understand the gene expression and characteristics of each cell, and then calculate the model to better understand the root cause of the disease and determine a new treatment plan. This work also needs high collaboration, involving UBC researchers in computer science, mathematics, and engineering, and other international cooperation.

"We are increasingly learned that infertility may have many different reasons, and every case varies from person to person." Flannigan said, "Considering this, we are taking a personalization, precise Medical Methods - Extracting the cells from the patient, trying to understand its unique abnormal conditions, and then supported by 3D printing to overcome these original defects. "