Mouse in-vitro spermatogenesis on alginate-based 3D bioprinted constructs

Commonly used acronym: IVS

Scope of the method

The Method relates to
  • Animal health
  • Human health
The Method is situated in
  • Basic Research
Type of method
  • In chemico
This method makes use of
  • Animal derived cells / tissues / organs
Species from which cells/tissues/organs are derived
Mouse
Type of cells/tissues/organs
Testis

Description

Method keywords
  • 3D in vitro model
  • 3D bioprinting
  • organoid culture
  • microscaffolds
  • extrusion-based 3D printing
Scientific area keywords
  • fertility preservation
  • reprotoxicity
  • preclinical
  • Drug discovery
  • drug development
  • testicular physiology
Method description

Studying spermatogenesis in situ has led to the understanding that the 3D reorganization of testicular cells into an interstitial and tubular compartment is of enormous importance for germ cell differentiation. We will rely on 3D bioprinting technology which gives control over cell deposition and scaffold design, to recreate the compartmentalization of the testis in vitro. Testicular constructs will be produced by culturing epithelial testicular cell fractions in the macropores of bioprinted interstitial cell-laden scaffolds. We expect these biomimetic scaffolds will also support differentiation of human germ cells.

Lab equipment
  • Extrusion-based 3D printer;
  • Air compressor;
  • Hydrogel;
  • Fluorescence activated cell sorter or magnetic activated cell sorter;
  • Fluorescence microscope.
Method status
  • Still in development
  • Published in peer reviewed journal

Pros, cons & Future potential

Advantages

Allows manipulation of cell suspensions before culture to help understand the many mechanisms controlling testicular physiology and spermatogenesis, but also to discover new clinical targets.

Challenges
  • Requires high cell concentrations ;
  • Lack of bioactivity or biocompatibility of the hydrogel ;
  • Uncertainty related to the medium ingredients that drive testicular morphogenesis and spermatogenesis.
Modifications
  • Use of higher cell concentrations ;
  • Use of alternative hydrogels ;
  • Optimisation culture medium.
Future & Other applications
  • Tool to study testicular physiology through cell manipulation or gene editing ;
  • In vitro derived sperm of prepubertal cancer patients and adult non-obstructive patients can be used to generate offspring through assisted reproduction ;
  • Cell therapy ;
  • Following the incorporation into multi-organs microfluidic devices, the constructs can serve as a high-throughput screening assay in preclinical tests.

References, associated documents and other information

References

Baert, Y., Dvorakova-Hortova, K., Margaryan, H. & Goossens, E. (2019) Mouse in vitro spermatogenesis on alginate-based bioprinted scaffolds. Biofabrication 11, 035011

Richer, G., Hobbs, R., Loveland, Kate., Goossens, E., Baert, Y. (2021) Long-term maintenance and meiotic entry of early germ cells in murine testicular organoids functionalized by 3D printed scaffolds at the air-medium interface cultivation. Frontiers in Physiology 12, 757565

Associated documents
Baert_2019_Biofabrication.pdf
Richer et al. 2021.pdf

Contact person

Guillaume Richer

Organisations

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
Belgium