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Review
. 2014:2014:507234.
doi: 10.1155/2014/507234. Epub 2014 Apr 14.

Stem cells as new agents for the treatment of infertility: current and future perspectives and challenges

Vladislav Volarevic  1 , Sanja Bojic  1 , Jasmin Nurkovic  1 , Ana Volarevic  1 , Biljana Ljujic  1 , Nebojsa Arsenijevic  1 , Majlinda Lako  2 , Miodrag Stojkovic  3
Affiliations
Review

Stem cells as new agents for the treatment of infertility: current and future perspectives and challenges

Vladislav Volarevic et al. Biomed Res Int. 2014.

Abstract

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are present in the embryonic, fetal, and adult stages of life and give rise to differentiated cells that make up the building blocks of tissue and organs. Due to their unlimited source and high differentiation potential, stem cells are considered as potentially new therapeutic agents for the treatment of infertility. Stem cells could be stimulated in vitro to develop various numbers of specialized cells including male and female gametes suggesting their potential use in reproductive medicine. During past few years a considerable progress in the derivation of male germ cells from pluripotent stem cells has been made. In addition, stem cell-based strategies for ovarian regeneration and oocyte production have been proposed as future clinical therapies for treating infertility in women. In this review, we summarized current knowledge and present future perspectives and challenges regarding the use of stem cells in reproductive medicine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Stem cell-derived male gametes. Several growth factors and cytokines are used for in vitro differentiation of pluripotent cells into male gametes/SSC-like cells. The transplantation of stem cell-derived SSC-like cells in sterile mice results in proper spermatogenesis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Ovarian stem cells:isolation and regenerative potential. Ovarian stem cells (MVH+BrdU+ cells) residing within the ovarian surface epithelium of neonatal and adult mice express high telomerase activity, Oct4, and Nanog and have a capacity to generate functional oocytes when transplanted back into sterile recipient mice.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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