Cryopreservation and Transplantation of Spermatogonia and Testicular Tissue for Preservation of Male Fertility

Abstract

The existence of spermatogonial stem cells in the testis offers clinically relevant options for preservation and restoration of male fertility. New approaches based on male germ cell transplantation and testicular tissue grafting can be applied to generate a limited number of sperm cells and could therefore be considered important new avenues for restoration of fertility in oncological patients. We have developed approaches to infuse germ cells into rodent and primate testes and shown that germ cell transplantation is a procedure for restoration of spermatogenesis in the testis that might be adaptable to primates. As a promising alternative, grafting of testicular tissue has been used to produce fertile sperm. The rapid progress in the development of novel experimental strategies to generate sperm by transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells or by grafting of testicular tissue should stimulate oncologists to consider the cryopreservation of testicular tissue. This review introduces the reader to the physiology of spermatogonial stem cells and summarizes the current and potential future options for fertility preservation in male oncological patients.

Potential benefits of melatonin in organ transplantation: a review

“…Spermatogonial cell transplantation into the testes of infertile animals was observed to lead to the reoccurrence of spermatogenesis (Orwig & Schlatt 2005, Mikkola et al 2006, Kim et al 2008. Melatonin treatment (20 mg/kg i.p.…”

GDNF Signaling Regulates YBX1/mRNA Interactions in Mouse Spermatogonia.

“…The spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) is the cell that in an adult is responsible for maintaining the continual production of sperm. Because it represents the foundation of spermatogenesis, understanding SSCs could provide insights into idiopathic male infertility, as well as yield clinical relevance for preserving and restoring male fertility and offering the potential for a reversible contraceptive [59].…”

“…Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the basis of mammalian spermatogenesis and provide an obvious clinical option for fertility restoration [59]. SSCs balance self-renewal (maintaining the stem cell pool) with differentiation (ultimately producing spermatozoa).…”

Animal models for fertility preservation in the male

“…Our study revealed that a storage for 24 h on ice did not reduce the potential of immature rhesus monkey testes to survive as a xenograft and to initiate spermatogenic differentiation. Cryopreservation of human testicular tissue has attained increasing attention as a novel approach for fertility preservation in patients prior to cancer therapy (Gosden 2002, Hovatta 2003, Orwig & Schlatt 2005, van den Berg et al 2007, Keros et al 2007). This strategy is also applicable to prepubertal patients whose testes are surgically removed due to cryptorchidism (Kvist et al 2006).…”