Generation of spermatogonia from human and non-human primate pluripotent stem cells.

Human and rhesus macaque pluripotent stem cells can be directed to produce spermatogonia and early germ cells, advancing in vitro gametogenesis research.

• Why it matters: Understanding and treating male infertility requires models that accurately mimic human spermatogenesis, which has been limited by the lack of suitable systems.
• What they did: The study developed a method to differentiate human and rhesus iPSCs into germ cell-like cells, forming testis-like structures in mice and primates, with key stages including meiotic onset.
• The result: This approach enables the generation of early germ cells with molecular features similar to natural counterparts, laying groundwork for studying primate germline development and potential fertility therapies.