The findings could improve understanding of testicular development and pave the way for new treatments for male infertility, which affects 1 in 12 men globally.
Researchers at the Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, used immature testicular cells from neonatal mice to grow the small, artificial organs, known as organoids. After nine weeks, they found the “laboratory testicles” contained clear tubule-like structures that resembled those found in real testicles, where sperm is produced.
It’s not yet clear whether the lab-grown testicles can actually produce sperm, though researchers said they’ve observed early signs of meiosis, a process that creates reproductive cells.
Researchers now plan to produce artificial testicles using human samples.
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