Scientists in China have found a solution to helping men feel like men again. Oddly enough, that solution lies in a mouse. Using mouse sperm from stem cells, scientists possibly have found a treatment for infertile men. For those who don’t like the idea of a mouse defining their manliness, fret not. This is just a precursor to an even bigger discovery.
CHINA USES MICE STEM CELLS TO CREATE SPERM
The process begins with embryonic cells found in mice. These cells which are found in embryos can develop into any cell of the body. With the correct chemicals and a little nudge in the right direction, these cells are on their way to becoming sperm. While this process itself has been done before, there is a slight difference. No transplant is needed. Scientists now simply place the cells in a dish containing testicle cells and make a little cocktail. Shaken, not stirred.
POSITIVE RESULTS SHOWN BUT EXPERIMENT STILL IN EARLY STAGES
China has expressed that that the method is still far from perfection despite success. The results never became fully mature sperm, but they were able to produce nine baby mice out of 379 eggs. Some researchers think this work done in China will be useful solely for the study of sperm development. Other’s have a bigger plan in mind. If the kinks are worked out even further, many scientists think that this technique could help infertile men. China says the use for men is still a long way off, but the possibility is there.
THE FUTURE OF FERTILITY
Once this technique is perfected in mice, China thinks that the process can be translated to that of men. If this were to happen, skin cells or other cells from the patient would be converted into stem cells. These stem cells would bear the patient’s DNA and then put through the process. Ultimately, legions of lively sperm would be created. The difficulty lies in applying the mouse operation to that of humans. For this reason, the research continues and infertile men will likely have to wait a long time for this to become a reality. Still, it’s amusing that a China, a country dealing with overpopulation, helped discover a way to impregnate more women.
