Biological therapy for non-obstructive azoospermia

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a condition in which men produce no sperm at all, even though their genital ducts are not obstructed. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic mutations, infections, and environmental toxins.
Currently, there is no cure for NOA. However, there are a number of experimental biological therapies that are being investigated as potential treatments. These therapies aim to restore spermatogenesis, the process by which sperm are produced.
One promising approach is spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SCT). SSCs are the cells in the testes that give rise to sperm. SCT involves transplanting SSCs from a healthy donor into the testes of a man with NOA. The transplanted SSCs can then repopulate the testes and produce sperm.
Another approach is to use in vitro spermatogenesis (IVSp). IVsp is a technique that can be used to grow sperm from pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells. This technique is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to provide a treatment for NOA in the future.
Finally, gene therapy is another potential treatment for NOA. Gene therapy involves using genetic engineering to correct the genetic defects that are causing the infertility. This approach is still in the early stages of research, but it has the potential to provide a permanent cure for NOA.
Biological therapy for NOA is a rapidly evolving field. As our understanding of the biology of spermatogenesis improves, we can expect to see the development of new and more effective treatments for this condition.
Here are some additional details about the three biological therapies mentioned above:

• Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SCT): This therapy is still in the early stages of clinical trials, but it has shown some promise in animal studies. In a 2015 study, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic transplanted SSCs from healthy donors into the testes of mice with NOA. The transplanted SSCs were able to repopulate the testes and produce sperm. The mice were then able to father healthy offspring.
• In vitro spermatogenesis (IVSp): This technique is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to provide a treatment for NOA in the future. In a 2018 study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania were able to grow sperm from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro. The sperm were able to fertilize eggs and produce healthy embryos.
• Gene therapy: This approach is still in the early stages of research, but it has the potential to provide a permanent cure for NOA. In a 2019 study, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco were able to use gene therapy to correct a genetic mutation that was causing NOA in mice. The mice were then able to produce sperm and father healthy offspring.

It is important to note that these are just a few of the biological therapies that are being investigated for the treatment of NOA. As our understanding of the biology of spermatogenesis improves, we can expect to see the development of new and more effective treatments for this condition.

Referance: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28927307/