科学家质疑人造精子的真实性

dr.qinan

Scientists cast doubts over sperm ‘made in laboratory’



British scientists were today claiming to have made medical history by creating human sperm in the laboratory.

The researchers said they had produced the In-Vitro Derived sperm from human embryonic stem cells.

The scientists at Newcastle University and the North East England Stem Cell Institute said the development would lead to a better understanding and treatment of infertility in men.

They stressed they had made no attempt to fertilise human eggs with the sperm.

Professor Karim Nayernia, who led the team, said: “This could help us develop new ways to help couples suffering infertility so they can have a child which is genetically their own.

“It will also allow scientists to study how cells involved in reproduction are affected by toxins.”

The scientists produced cells which they described as “fully mature, functional sperm”. But other experts argued that the cells did not constitute “authentic” sperm with all the necessary biological characteristics.

The research is reported today in the journal Stem Cells and Development. The team said the sperm would not and could not be used for fertility treatment.

But sperm biologist Dr Allen Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am unconvinced from the data presented in this paper that the cells produced... can be accurately called spermatozoa'.”

Professor Azim Surani, from Cambridge University, added: “These sperm-like cells made in a dish from embryonic stem cells are a long way from being authentic sperm cells.”