Possible use of spermatogonial stem cells in the treatment of male infertility

Abstract

Spermatogonial stem cells, which are already present at birth in the testicles, are the progenitors of male gametes. These cells cannot produce mature sperm before puberty due to their dependence on hormonal stimuli. This feature of the reproductive system limits preservation of fertility only to males who can produce an ejaculate. Therefore, the use of cancer treatment which can lead to fertility loss has made sperm cryopreservation a standard practice. Prepubertal cancer boys – who are prescribed chemotherapy that is toxic to their reproductive system – are deprived of this fertility management procedure. This review focuses on the problem of obtaining and preserving spermatogonial stem cells for future transplantation to restore spermatogenesis. Development of these methods is becoming increasingly urgent due to higher survival rates in childhood cancer over the past decades thanks to improvements in diagnosis and effective treatment. Restoring and preserving fertility using spermatogonial stem cells may be the only option for such patients.