Advances in human In vitro spermatogenesis: A review

Recent advances surrounding in vitro spermatogenesis (IVS) have shown potential in creating a new paradigm of regenerative medicine in the future of fertility treatments for males experiencing non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Male infertility is a common condition affecting approximately 15% of couples, with azoospermia being present in 15% of infertile males (Cocuzza et al., 2013; Esteves et al., 2011a). Treatment for patients with NOA has primarily been limited to surgical sperm retrieval combined with in vitro fertilization intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI); however, sperm retrieval is successful in only half of these patients, and live birth rates typically range between 10 and 25% (Aljubran et al., 2022). Therefore, a significant need exists for regenerative therapies in this patient population. IVS has been considered as a model for further understanding the molecular and cellular processes of spermatogenesis and as a potential regenerative therapeutic approach. While 2D cell cultures using human testicular cells have been attempted in previous research, lack of proper spatial arrangement limits germ cell differentiation and maturation, posing challenges for clinical application. Recent research suggests that 3D technology may have advantages for IVS due to mimicry of the native cytoarchitecture of human testicular tissue along with cell-cell communication directly or indirectly. 3D organotypic cultures, scaffolds, organoids, microfluidics, testis-on-a-chip, and bioprinting techniques have all shown potential to contribute to the technology of regenerative treatment strategies, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although promising, further work is needed to develop technology for successful, replicable, and safe IVS for humans. The intersection between tissue engineering, molecular biology, and reproductive medicine in IVS development allows for multidisciplinary involvement, where challenges can be overcome to realize regenerative therapies as a viable option.