Generation of Artificial Gamete and Embryo From Stem Cells in Reproductive Medicine

Pu-Yao Zhang; Yong Fan; Tao Tan; Yang Yu

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.00781

Generation of Artificial Gamete and Embryo From Stem Cells in Reproductive Medicine

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 Jul 22:8:781. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00781. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Pu-Yao Zhang^{1

2}, Yong Fan³, Tao Tan^{1

4}, Yang Yu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
² Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology and Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
³ Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.

Abstract

In addition to the great growing need for assisted reproduction technologies (ART), additional solutions for patients without functional gametes are strongly needed. Due to ethical restrictions, limited studies can be performed on human gametes and embryos; however, artificial gametes and embryos represent a new hope for clinical application and basic research in the field of reproductive medicine. Here, we provide a review of the research progress and possible application of artificial gametes and embryos from different species, including mice, monkeys and humans. Gametes specification from adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) as well as propagation of stem cells from the reproductive system and from organized embryos, which are similar to blastocysts, have been realized in some nonhuman mammals, but not all achievements can be replicated in humans. This area of research remains noteworthy and requires further study and effort to achieve the reconstitution of the entire cycle of gametogenesis and embryo development in vitro.

Keywords: artificial embryogenies; artificial gametes; embryo development; gametogenesis; reproductive medicine; stem cell.

Publication types

Review