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Mice produce sperm from monkeys
BBC News ^ | February 4, 2004 | Dr David Whitehouse

Posted on 02/04/2004 10:12:36 AM PST by NYer

Mice have been used to produce viable monkey sperm using tissue transplanted from the testes of macaques.

The US scientists involved say their work might one day help to conserve animals that are facing extinction.

It might also be possible to grow human sperm in mice, although the team agree this would be a controversial move.

The researchers, from the universities of Pennsylvania and California, report their studies in the latest issue of the journal Biology of Reproduction.

In 2002, the same team produced goat and pig sperm from mice. It was the first time that sperm had been produced outside the original animal.

Testis transplant

The latest procedure involves transplanting a tiny amount of testicular tissue from an immature rhesus macaque monkey under the skin of a lab mouse.

Ina Dobrinski, of the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues transplanted the tissue into mice that had deficient immune systems, so that it would not be rejected.

"We started this work with primate testis after we had success with domestic animals," Professor Dobrinski told BBC News Online.

After seven months, the testes grafts on the backs of the mice were seen to produce viable sperm.

Grafting immature testis tissue appears to work because the host mouse had been castrated, Dobrinski says.

This boosts levels of the brain hormones that switch on sperm production, so the young tissue grows rapidly. The technique is expected to work on adult testis grafts, too.

The Pennsylvania group will now try the procedure on testis tissue from domestic cats, as a trial for endangered big cats that rarely survive to reproductive age in captivity.

The technique could also produce offspring from other endangered species or valuable livestock, even if only immature males exist.

The latest work with primates will help reduce the number of such animals used in laboratories.

Of mice and men

"The main benefits we see are that this approach provides a system to study and manipulate primate spermatogenesis, thereby minimising the need for experimentation in primates," Professor Dobrinski says.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: genetics; shockthemonkey
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Viable sperm were produced after seven months.
1 posted on 02/04/2004 10:12:37 AM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; CAtholic Family Association; narses; ...
The very latest in Frankenscience!

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 02/04/2004 10:13:39 AM PST by NYer (Ad Jesum per Mariam)
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To: NYer
And they called it puppy love.........
3 posted on 02/04/2004 10:13:58 AM PST by Smartaleck
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To: NYer
It might also be possible to grow human sperm in mice

This further complicates the question, "Are you a man or are you a mouse?"

4 posted on 02/04/2004 10:14:37 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
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To: CAtholic Family Association
It might also be possible to grow human sperm in mice, although the team agree this would be a controversial move.

*** Pro-life groups have a lot of work to do.
5 posted on 02/04/2004 10:14:46 AM PST by cyborg
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To: NYer
I want to see them bring back a frozen mammoth (or a hybrid offspring) this is one more procedure that will add to that possibility.
6 posted on 02/04/2004 10:14:50 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (Fighting for Freedom and Having Fun)
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To: NYer; Tijeras_Slim; Constitution Day; Charles Henrickson; xsmommy; Chad Fairbanks; mhking; ...
Testis transplant


7 posted on 02/04/2004 10:15:00 AM PST by martin_fierro (Chat is my milieu)
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To: NYer
Mice produce sperm from monkeys

And I thought I had a tough job!

8 posted on 02/04/2004 10:16:23 AM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: Blood of Tyrants
"Are you a man or are you a mouse?"

"I like cheese!"

9 posted on 02/04/2004 10:17:34 AM PST by GingisK
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To: PBRSTREETGANG
how do they get the mouse to wrap his hand around the monkeys.....nevermind.
10 posted on 02/04/2004 10:25:14 AM PST by longfellow (www.ultimateamerican.com)
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To: NYer
Well, I wonder how much we paid for this bit of blatantly unconstitutional tripe.
11 posted on 02/04/2004 10:25:22 AM PST by newgeezer (A conservative who conserves -- a true capitalist!)
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To: NYer
By Dr David Whitehouse???

Maybe from the CLINTON Whitehouse?

12 posted on 02/04/2004 10:26:38 AM PST by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: ElkGroveDan
I want to see them bring back a frozen mammoth
 
Me too, I'll bet that would be delicious!

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

13 posted on 02/04/2004 10:28:16 AM PST by End Times Sentinel ("24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.")
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To: cpforlife.org; Mr. Silverback
Ping!
14 posted on 02/04/2004 10:32:38 AM PST by NYer (Ad Jesum per Mariam)
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To: NYer
It was the first time that sperm had been produced outside the original animal.

Ah...ha! So THAT explains Algore.

15 posted on 02/04/2004 10:32:39 AM PST by Ima Lurker
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To: martin_fierro
Lol .... is she back?
16 posted on 02/04/2004 10:33:31 AM PST by NYer (Ad Jesum per Mariam)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
"This further complicates the question, "Are you a man or are you a mouse?"

Not far from the truth ... IMO .. this kind of 'research' as well as most space "exploration" is motivated by the desire to "prove" there is no God.

17 posted on 02/04/2004 10:35:08 AM PST by knarf (A place where anyone can learn anything ... especially that which promotes clear thinking.)
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To: PBRSTREETGANG
Mice produce sperm from monkeys

The trick is getting the monkey to sit still long enough.

18 posted on 02/04/2004 10:39:02 AM PST by ItsForTheChildren
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To: NYer
A breakthrough in the science of moral depravity.
19 posted on 02/04/2004 10:41:16 AM PST by Dionysius
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To: NYer
This is really gross. It paves the way for "Mouskeys" and other animals that shouldn't exist.
20 posted on 02/04/2004 10:51:32 AM PST by Clemenza (East side, West side, all around the town. Tripping the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York)
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