Stem Cells from 'Down Below'

Most men will wince in fear at the very suggestion, but biopsies from human testicles have yielded stem cells that can be manipulated into almost any cell of the human body. The advance, reported in October of last year, is noted by many as a major step forward in stem cell research.

A team led by Thomas Skutella at the University of Tubingen in Germany came to the discovery when harvesting spermatogonial cells and exposing them to a series of chemicals. Astoundingly they began maturing into various cell types.
"We made them into skin, structures of the gut, cartilage, bone, muscle, and neurons," says Skutella.

If these spermatogonial cells were to not be rejected when implanted thorughout the body, the major ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cells (or ESCs) would be made void. This prospect has led Robert Lanza, a stem-cell specialist at Advanced Cell Technology in the United States, to label the
feat a "home run" that "bypasses the ethical and immunological problems associated with ESCs."

Testicle drawn stem-cells yield some amazing results.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/bigphotos/87769751.html

At this point, the male reader will no doubt be struggling to imagine just how painful removing these cells may prove to be. Skutella however, insists that such biopsies are already routine in men undergoing infertility treatment.

"Skin biopsies might sound more acceptable, but it hurts just as much as from the testes," he says.

Many researchers do however caution against any undue hype over the discovery, suggesting that Skutella's cells do not express all the molecular markers associated with ESCs. Many scientists strongly advocate that more work is needed in the field before conclusive data can be obtained, and so research continues.
Student number: 42067898
Full Name: Christopher Wrona
Prac: P8

Primary Source

Article content summarised from
Author not provided, New Scientist, 11 October 2008, Published Reed Business Information - Lacon House - 84 Theobald's Road - London, "Stem Cells From Down Below", page 4

Further reading

Rob Waters, RW, 8 October 2008, "Testicle Stem Cells Become Bone and Muscle in German Experiments", Bloomberg, New York, page 1;
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aNmiXs8SPp4w&refer=home

Brian Handwerk, BH, 8 October 2008, "Human Testicles Yield Stem Cells", National Geographic, page 1;
http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/2008/10/081008-stem-cells-testicles.html

Seth Borenstein, SB, 9 October 2008, "Testicle stem cells avoid 'ethical problem'", Washington Times, page 1;
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/09/testicle-stem-cells-avoid-ethical-problem/

Video regarding the ethics of ESCs. Goes on to talk about IVF treatements and other less relevant information
"Adult Stem Cell Results & Embryonic Stem Cell Ethics"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj7ejgEHdPc