Amazing stuff!
"... scientists ... have developed an innovative platform to create sperm in a laboratory through a microfluidic system ...The sperm was grown on a special silicon chip developed ... A 3D system was built and integrated to allow the addition of testicular tissue cells. The chip enabled the researchers to grow cells from the testis in the microchip and add fresh cell culture media designed to support cellular growth. ..."
From the abstract:
"This research presents a novel testis-on-a-chip (ToC) platform. Testicular cells are enzymatically isolated from the seminiferous tubules of sexually immature mice, seeded in a methylcellulose gel and cultured in a microfluidic chip. ... The cells develop into spheroids continuing to proliferate and differentiate. After seven weeks of culture the cells have over 95% viability. Confocal microscopy of the developed spheroids reveals a structure containing the various stages of spermatogenesis up to and including meiosis II: premeiotic, meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells. The spheroid structure also contains the supporting Sertoli and peritubular cells. ... As a benchmark, the ToC is compared to a conventional three-dimensional methylcellulose cell culture system in a well plate. Analysis via fluorescence-activated cell sorting shows more haploid cells in the chip as compared to the plates. ... This research opens new horizons for the study and realization of spermatogenesis in-vitro. It can also enable the implementation of microfluidic technologies in future therapeutic strategies for pre-pubertal male fertility preservation and adults with maturation arrest. Lastly, it can serve as a platform for drug and toxin testing."
Testis on a chip—a microfluidic three-dimensional culture system for the development of spermatogenesis in-vitro (no public access)
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