الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Stem cells are cells that can renew themselves and produce mature cells by differentiating in response to certain physiological stimuli. They have unlimited sources and high differentiation potential. Different types of stem cells are distinguished based on their differeniation potential and source. Adult stem cells have advantages over other stem cells as they posses no ethical conflicts or immune rejection problems Male infertility is a heterogeneous condition, caused by various underlying pathologies. Several advancements have been made in the field of infertility treatment including assisted reproductive techniques. However, assisted reproductive techniques can’t help all patients with infertility. This pushes us to search in the field of infertility aiming to find another modality to help patients suffering infertility. As stem cells had the differentiation power and they pave their way in different treatment fields. So, we try to explore the possility of using stem cell to treat male infertility by injecting them intratesticularly in two groups of patients; azospermic and oligospermic group. Regarding the oligozospermic group their Spermatic count increase after 6 month, with significant difference, for motility there was better motility with a near significant difference, also there was decrease in abnormal forms with high significant difference. As regards the azospermic group, their semen analysis with centrifuge showed no significant difference between cell number but reveled a significant difference between cell type at baseline and 6 month after stem cell injection. Their testicular biopsy showed that 10% of patients with sertoli cell improve to spermatogenic arrest at spermatid level and 10% of patients of spermatogenic arrest at primary spermatocyte improve to arrest at spermatid level. Regarding hormonal profile of the azospermic group, 6 months after injection, there was decrease in FSH with a significant difference while LH decrease with no significant difference. For testosterone it showed increase with highly significant difference. Being a new approach more patients, more investigation and longer period of follow up is needed to evaluate the use of stem cells to treat male infertility. In conclusion, stem cell is a promising safe tool of treatment that may give hope to patients with infertility especially those with non obstructive azospermia. This needs more trials on larger scale of patients, with longer period of follow up. |