3D cultures for the production and quality assessment of sperm in vitro.
Contact: Kateřina Komrsková
Scheme of the in vitro preparation of testicular organoid cultures enabling germ cell maturation to functional sperm.
Spermatogenesis is a highly complex and tightly regulated process that results in the formation of mature and functional sperm necessary for fertilization. Disorders of this process represent a major cause of male infertility. Studying the mechanisms of spermatogenesis in model systems can therefore significantly contribute to understanding the causes of infertility and to the development of new therapeutic options.
The project aims to develop and standardize a technology for the preparation of testicular organoid cultures in vitro, which will allow germ cells to mature up to the stage of functional sperm. This approach could open new possibilities for the treatment of male infertility, especially in patients who are unable to produce mature sperm naturally. Our goal is to establish a protocol leading to the production of morphologically normal and functional sperm, whose biological activity will be verified through artificial fertilization and the assessment of early embryonic development. The results will subsequently be applicable in clinical practice in collaboration with assisted reproduction centers.
The methodology will be based on in vitro culture of juvenile mouse testicular tissue and the generation of 3D organoid cultures. Traditional approaches will be compared with modern bioreactor systems, and a standardized cultivation protocol will be developed, including tissue preparation, optimized medium composition, and conditions for long-term organoid growth.
