SRP-Groeifinanciering: The spermatogonial stem cell: the key to prevention and treatment of male infertility

Sperm precursor cells (SPCs) are the driving force behind sperm formation. Defective SPCs or loss of these cells results in male infertility, i.e. the inability to conceive a pregnancy. In Europe, at least 20% of young men exhibit sperm parameters below the lower WHO reference level and this will affect their fertility. At present, impaired male fertility is circumvented mainly by performing assisted reproductive techniques. However, this is only feasible when mature sperm cells are produced. For male patients who do not produce sperm, there are currently no therapeutic options to father children.
As long as SPCs are present in the testis, in vivo (inside the body) or in vitro (in a culture dish) therapies based on sperm development from SPCs could solve the problem. Our research group has performed pioneering work on in vivo strategies, including transplantation of SPCs or testicular tissue fragments to the testis. These are now ready to be used in clinical applications.
However, in vivo strategies are not possible for recovered cancer patients (risk of
reintroducing malignant cells), patients with Klinefelter syndrome (genetic problem causing testicular dysfunction), patients with dysfunctional SPCs (no ability to mature) and transwomen who did not go through puberty or did not bank sperm. These patients might benefit from in vitro strategies which need, however, still to be developed.
The project includes the study of spermatogenesis with a special focus on SSCs and their natural micro-environment. We aim to unravel causes of male infertility (due to cancer therapies or genetic conditions) and develop in vitro strategies to prevent/treat it.