Gamete interaction; contraception; male fertility; sperm biology and cayopreservation; spermatogonial transplantation. Research in our laboratory is centered on optimization of gamete cryopreservation and development of new methods for preservation of male gametes. Alternative modes of sperm preservation beyond refrigeration and cryopreservation need to be developed for the efficient storage of genetically defined individuals or endangered species. We are working with both the non-human primate and the horse. These are two species for which individual male variation plays an important role in developing a cryopreservation protocol that can be successfully used for all males. Our goals are to first to develop an understanding of fundamental mechanisms of cellular injury caused by low temperature storage, and then to use this knowledge to develop new methods for gamete preservation. We use the techniques of lipid analysis, flow cytometry and confocal, fluorescence, and electron microscopy to evaluate the integrity of sperm cell organization and cell function. In addition, the laboratory has funding from NCRR to explore the use of spermatogonial stem cell transplantation in non-human primates, speceifically the rhesus macaque. We have successfully produced nude mice that are capable of producing macaque sperm and have confirmed this with in vitro embryo production. Efforts are focused on enrichment and purification of germ-line stem cells from prepubertal rhesus males for tranplantation into homologous rhesus recipients.
Visit Dr. Meyers' website: http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/smeyers/