Le cellule staminali preposte alla produzione degli spermatozoi possono riattivarsi dopo essere state congelate per più di 20 anni. Lo dimostra uno studio dell’Università della Pennsylvania, reso noto martedì. Ciò permetterebbe ai bambini di potersi riprodurre anche se sottoposti a trattamenti in grado di comprometterne la fertilità.
Le terapie contro il cancro possono causare problemi legati all’infertilità, ma ai giovani e agli adulti che seguono questi trattamenti è data la possibilità di potersi riprodurre. Ciò attraverso il congelamento dello sperma. Per i bambini invece ciò non è possibile.
Il nuovo approccio prevede una biopsia testicolare parziale e la crioconservazione delle cellule staminali dello sperma per 20 anni. In questo caso, spiegano i ricercatori, un trapianto ne rigenererebbe la fertilità, seppur con un’efficienza ridotta.
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