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Médecine de la Reproduction

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In vitro spermatogenesis : a myth or reality? Volume 11, issue 3, mai-juin 2009

Author
Lignée germinale Normale et Pathologique, Inserm U625, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France

The extremely complex in vivo structural organization of the mammalian testis creates particular difficulties for studying their organization, function, and regulation. This has provided the motivation for developing in vitro systems of spermatogenesis. In this short review we discuss the various in vitro systems that have been developed and the results generated by these systems. This review also highlights current research options, leading to interesting new perspectives for the treatment of male sterility in humans with a special focus on spermatogonial stem cells culture systems.