Transplantation directs oocyte maturation from embryonic stem cells and provides a therapeutic strategy for female infertility

Interventions in the prolongation of reproductive life in women

Women may seek to prolong their reproductive span for a variety of reasons. For many this implies reproduction at a late age, possibly driven by lifestyle decisions, but for others affected by a natural or a cancer treatment-induced premature ovarian failure it may simply mean seeking to achieve the normal reproductive span. The range of interventions now available to address the issue of prolonging reproductive life has never been greater, although several of the approaches discussed remain in the realm of future application through being dependent on ongoing scientific developments.

Generation of viable male and female mice from two fathers

In sexual species, fertilization of oocytes produces individuals with alleles derived from both parents. Here we use pluripotent stem cells derived from somatic cells to combine the haploid genomes from two males to produce viable sons and daughters. Male (XY) mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (Father #1) were used to isolate subclones that had spontaneously lost the Y chromosome to become genetically female (XO). These male-derived XO stem cells were used to generate female chimeras that were bred with genetically distinct males (Father #2), yielding progeny possessing genetic information that was equally derived from both fathers. Thus, functional oocytes can be generated from male somatic cells after reprogramming and spontaneous sex reversal. These findings have novel implications for mammalian reproduction and assisted reproductive technology.

Genetics of mammalian meiosis: regulation, dynamics and impact on fertility

Meiosis is an essential stage in gamete formation in all sexually reproducing organisms. Studies of mutations in model organisms and of human haplotype patterns are leading to a clearer understanding of how meiosis has adapted from yeast to humans, the genes that control the dynamics of chromosomes during meiosis, and how meiosis is tied to gametic success. Genetic disruptions and meiotic errors have important roles in infertility and the aetiology of developmental defects, especially aneuploidy. An understanding of the regulation of meiosis, coupled with advances in genomics, may ultimately allow us to diagnose the causes of meiosis-based infertilities, more wisely apply assisted reproductive technologies, and derive functional germ cells.