Pharmacological concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone improve the efficacy of in vitro germ cell differentiation in men with maturation arrest.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether in vitro differentiation of germ cells from men with maturation arrest is improved by augmenting FSH and T concentrations above the values effective in samples from men with normal spermatogenesis.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled in vitro study.


METHODS
Private assisted reproduction centers and a university department.


METHODS
Men with meiotic or postmeiotic maturation arrest.


METHODS
Testicular spermatid extraction, in vitro culture of testicular biopsy samples, intraoocyte injection of elongated spermatids, embryo culture and transfer.


METHODS
Progression of in vitro germ cell differentiation, fertilization, and pregnancy outcomes with in vitro cultured germ cells.


RESULTS
In some cases of meiotic and postmeiotic maturation arrest, more advanced germ cell stages were achieved by in vitro culture in the presence of 500 IU/L FSH as compared with 50 IU/L FSH. The beneficial effect of 500 IU/L FSH was further potentiated by a simultaneous increase of T concentration from 1 to 10 microM. Fertilizations with germ cells recovered after incubation with these pharmacological hormone concentrations gave rise to viable embryos and the births of five healthy babies.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacological concentrations of FSH and T are beneficial for in vitro maturation of germ cells from some men with in vivo maturation arrest.
Tesarik
Jan
J
Laboratoire d'Eylau, Paris, France.
Nagy
Peter
P
Abdelmassih
Roger
R
Greco
Ermanno
E
Mendoza
Carmen
C
D001706:Biopsy; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone