Reproduction in Humans and Animals

Infertility is a problem that confronts one in six to seven of couples hoping to have children. Roughly a third of all cases of limited fertility or complete infertility are attributable to the female or the male partner, while up to 40% cases are due to disorders in both partners. Involuntary childlessness can be a result of genetic factors, disorders of endocrine regulatory circuits or abnormalities and diseases of the genital organs. Equally relevant factors are infections and environmental influences, including lifestyle and nutrition. In view of the shift in the reproductive phase, age is also becoming an increasingly critical factor. In 10-20% of all cases it is not possible to pinpoint the cause. In veterinary medicine, reproductive biotechnologies and assisted reproductive technologies are used to increase the progress in breeding, not to treat infertility. Research is needed to answer specific veterinary challenges on the one hand, and on the other hand the bovine embryo plays an important role as model system for the human counterparts.

Scientists of the Campus Profile Area “Reproduction in Humans and Animals” from the Departments of Human and Veterinary Medicine and Biology are conducting interdisciplinary research to identify hitherto unknown causes of infertility and to shed light on the molecular mechanisms of known fertility disorders. This is the only way to develop new diagnostic procedures and identify causal therapy options. Another aim of the research is to improve the chances of success of assisted reproduction in humans and animals (in-vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection).