History as sperm is created by science (From Durham Times)

History as sperm is created by science

7:55am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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North-East in medical breakthrough.

A ROW broke out last night after North-East scientists said they had made medical history by creating human sperm in the laboratory – a move that could mean new hope for thousands of infertile couples.

The Newcastle team said it had produced fully mature, functional cells called In- Vitro Derived sperm.

But experts cast doubt on the claim, arguing that the cells did not constitute “authentic”

sperm with all the necessary biological characteristics.

Christian leaders labelled the idea “abhorrent” and “immoral madness”.

The scientists, led by Professor Karim Nayernia, at Newcastle University, and the North-East England Stem Cell Institute (Nesci) created the sperm from human embryonic stem cells.

The team called for the introduction of laws “sooner rather than later” to control how the research is used.

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

Prof Nayernia said the development would lead to a better understanding of why infertility happened in men and what caused it.

He said: “This understanding could help us develop new ways to help couples suffering infertility so they can have a child who is genetically their own.

“It will also allow scientists to study how cells involved in reproduction are affected by toxins, for example, why young boys with leukaemia who undergo chemotherapy can become infertile for life – and possibly lead us to a solution.”

The team also believes that studying the process of forming sperm could lead to a better understanding of how genetic diseases are passed on.

Prof Nayernia’s team said the sperm would not and could not be used for fertility treatment.

But Andrea Williams, of the Christian Legal Centre said: “The thought of creating sperm from stem cells is abhorrent.

“This process involves taking stem cells from human embryos. Destroying human embryos in order to create sperm is immoral madness.”

Prof Nayernia said: “While we can understand that some people may have concerns, this does not mean that humans can be produced ‘in a dish’ and we have no intention of doing this.

“This work is a way of investigating why some people are infertile and the reasons behind it.

“If we have a better understanding of what’s going on it could lead to new ways of treating infertility.”

But other experts commenting on the work expressed doubt about what had been achieved.

Dr Allen Pacey, a senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “As a sperm biologist of 20 years’ experience, I am unconvinced by the data presented.”

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

Professor Robin Lovell Badge, of the Medical Research Council’s National Institute of Medical Research, said the work was a follow-up to animal research in which laboratory-produced mouse sperm was used to create offspring.

However, all the mice born died after a few months, suggesting a problem with the sperm.

The Newcastle scientists had not produced robust evidence that the human sperm they created was normal, said Prof Lovell Badge.

He said: “Although they find that some of the sperm cells have tails and can swim, this is not evidence of normality.”

Approximately one in seven couples have fertility problems.

In 20 per cent of couples, low sperm count or quality is the only cause of infertility, and it is a contributory factor in a further 25 per cent of couples.

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