Sperm News and Research

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The term sperm refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. The human sperm cell is haploid, so that its 23 chromosomes can join the 23 chromosomes of the female egg to form a diploid cell.

Vitamin A may play key role in sperm cell formation and development of central nervous system

In a recently-published study mapping the structure and function of the so-called "orphan" nuclear receptor TR4, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) investigators suggest that Vitamin A may play a more direct role than was previously known in certain physiological functions including sperm cell formation and the development of the central nervous system.

18 Mar 2011

TESE offers fertility to male cancer survivors

An intricate procedure that finds and carefully removes individual sperm from testicular tissue has made fathers of men who were once considered sterile due to prior cancer treatment, say researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center who pioneered the technique.

16 Mar 2011

TESE surgical technique can help men with childhood cancer experience parenthood

A new study has shown that a surgical technique called microdissection testicular sperm extraction can effectively locate and extract viable sperm in more than one-third of adult male childhood cancer survivors who were previously considered sterile due to prior chemotherapy treatment.

15 Mar 2011

How male puberty begins

Scientists from Monash University have uncovered a new understanding of how male puberty begins.

14 Mar 2011

FRSQ, NSFC announce funds for genomic research on male infertility

The Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec, Génome Québec and the National Natural Science Foundation of China are pleased to announce the funding of a first project as part of their joint program for research on genomics and diseases, which was launched in July 2010.

10 Mar 2011

Study finds passive smoking increases risk of still birth by 23%

Pregnant non-smokers who breathe in the second-hand smoke of other people are at an increased risk of delivering stillborn babies or babies with defects, a study led by researchers at The University of Nottingham has found.

9 Mar 2011

FDA approves change to prescribing information for Gilead Sciences' Letairis

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a change to the prescribing information for Letairis (ambrisentan 5 mg and 10 mg tablets), the company's once-daily treatment to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group 1) patients with predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms.

5 Mar 2011

Endo's FORTESTA Gel for treatment of 'Low T' in males is now available in pharmacies

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced that FORTESTA Gel – recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of low testosterone, or 'Low T' in adult males – is now available by prescription in pharmacies across the country.

3 Mar 2011

New study: Significant deterioration in semen quality during last 10 years in Finland

A new study published in the International Journal of Andrology reveals that semen quality has significantly deteriorated during the last ten years in Finland, a country that previously was a region with high sperm counts.

3 Mar 2011

Cryo-Cell fiscal 2010 net income increases to $3.4 million

Cryo-Cell International, Inc., one of the world's largest and most established family cord blood banks and an industry leader of innovative stem cell solutions, today announced results for its fiscal year 2010.

28 Feb 2011

Conceptus announces CE mark approval for use of Transvaginal Ultrasound in Essure procedure

Conceptus Inc., developer of the Essure procedure, the most effective non-surgical permanent birth control method available, today announced receipt of the CE mark for use of Transvaginal Ultrasound to confirm proper placement of Essure micro-inserts three months following the Essure procedure.

24 Feb 2011

Skeleton regulates fertility in males, but not females

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have discovered that the skeleton acts as a regulator of fertility in male mice through a hormone released by bone, known as osteocalcin.

17 Feb 2011

Muscle, aptly enough, is born of cellular bullying, and not mutual consent

In fact, according to new research from Johns Hopkins, the fusion of muscle cells is a power struggle that involves a smaller mobile antagonist that points at, pokes and finally pushes into its larger, stationary partner using a newly identified finger-like projection.

17 Feb 2011

Genetic tests find skeletons like incest in the family: Study

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have developed sophisticated DNA analyses that can detect disabilities as birth defects, epilepsy or developmental delays. They note that about 25 percent of genetic material inherited from their mother was the same as material inherited from their father. This denoted incest. This has triggered ethical debates over how these inadvertent findings should be handled.

13 Feb 2011

Novel study finds unexpected link between reproductive proteins in humans, invertebrates

A novel study in the scientific journal Molecular Biology and Evolution draws a completely unexpected link between reproductive proteins in humans and proteins involved in fertilization in invertebrates, as well as mating between haploid cells in yeast. Because human and yeast are separated by 1 billion years of evolution, these findings may have important implications for our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sex, and how they originated.

5 Feb 2011

First ever story-collective for people involved in reproductive technologies

AnonymousUs.org, a newly launched website, invites anyone and everyone involved in reproductive technologies to write about their experiences and opinions—anonymously. It is especially designed to encourage those conceived via reproductive technologies to share their personal stories without shame or fear.

4 Feb 2011

Merck announces publication of GARDASIL pivotal Phase III study data in NEJM

Merck announced today that data from the pivotal Phase III study with GARDASIL in males were published in the February 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

3 Feb 2011

Study uncovers genetic hierarchy in plant sperm formation

Biologists at the University of Leicester have published results of a new study into the intricacies of sex in flowering plants.

3 Feb 2011

Uterine health is more relevant for fetus to achieve normal birth weight, full gestation

For women seeking pregnancy by assisted reproductive technologies, such as in-vitro fertilization, a new study shows that the health of the uterus is more relevant than egg quality for a newborn to achieve normal birth weight and full gestation.

2 Feb 2011

ESHRE publishes position paper on intrafamilial medically assisted reproduction

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) has published today (Thursday) a position paper related to intrafamilial medically assisted reproduction (IMAR).This particular type of assisted reproduction can raise various ethical and controversial issues, due to the involvement of a family member as a third party.

20 Jan 2011