Project 170950
Investigation of meiotic defects in infertile men undergoing assisted reproductive technologies
Investigation of meiotic defects in infertile men undergoing assisted reproductive technologies
Project Information
| Study Type: | Other Mechanistic_Study |
| Therapeutic Area: | Cancer |
| Research Theme: | Clinical |
| Disease Area: | cancer |
| Data Type: | Canadian |
Institution & Funding
| Principal Investigator(s): | Ma, Sai |
| Co-Investigator(s): | Brown, Carolyn J |
| Institution: | University of British Columbia |
| CIHR Institute: | Human Development, Child and Youth Health |
| Program: | |
| Peer Review Committee: | Clinical Investigation - A: Reproduction, Maternal, Child and Youth Health |
| Competition Year: | 2008 |
| Term: | 3 yrs 0 mth |
Abstract Summary
It is estimated that 2% of men are infertile due to severe defects in sperm production. In the majority of these cases, the cause of infertility remains unknown. During spermatogenesis, cells must undergo a specialized type of cell division known as meiosis. Recent studies have shown that errors in this meiotic division are more prevalent in infertile men and may play an important role in idiopathic male infertility. We recently provided evidence that meiotic errors in infertile men may also be associated with the production of aneuploid sperm, that is, sperm containing either extra or missing chromosomes. Our prelimineary results suggest that meiotic errors may lead to arrest in some cells, leading to infertility, while other cells may proceed through meiosis and produce aneuploid sperm. We are using recently developed techniques to further charaterize the meiotic defects that lead to the production of aneuploid sperm and male infertility. Such information could eventually aid in risk assessment for men undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Aneuploidy remains the most frequent cause of miscarriage, and, among liveborns, it is the most common genetic cause of congenital malformations. The results of this study will also provide further direction in the search for gene mutations that contribute to male-factor infertility.
Research Characteristics
This project includes the following research characteristics:
Study Justification
"This proposal will investigate how the cellular machinery that controls the movement of vesicles is regulated during cell division."
Novelty Statement
"The ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to a better understanding of how the loss of tissue architecture contributes to cancer, and to identify new avenues for therapeutic intervention."
Methodology Innovation
studying the regulation of vesicle trafficking during cell division to understand its role in cancer