Spermatogonial Stem Cell (SSC) Transplant and Testicular Tissue Grafting

Azoospermia (no sperm in ejaculated semen) impacts 1% of men in the general population and 15% of infertile men, which translates to 645,000 males between the ages of 20 and 50 (prime reproductive years) in the United States. Spermatogenesis arises from a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the testes that maintain continuous sperm production throughout a man's post-pubertal life. Diseases or medical treatments that compromise the stem cell pool and/or prevent the stem cells from differentiating can cause infertility. Adult men have the option to cryopreserve a semen sample prior to therapy but this is not an option for prepubertal patients who are not yet producing sperm. This study will test the safety and feasibility of two approaches to restore sperm production using previously cryopreserved testicular tissues, which contain spermatogonial stem cells. The first approach is autologous transplantation of testicular cells, including spermatogonial stem cells, into the testis using ultrasound-guided rete testis injection. The second approach is autologous grafting of intact pieces of testicular tissue under the skin in the scrotum.