New Device Allows Reseachers To Study Embryo Growth Outside The Uterus

New Device Allows Reseachers To Study Embryo Growth Outside The Uterus

A process that is essential to the early development of mammalian embryos has been exposed and studied for the first time by researchers from the University of Nottingham. The research team, led by professor Kevin Shakesheff, created an artificial device that simulates the tissue found in the uterus, thus making it possible to implant human embryos in it.

The new artificial device allowed researchers to observe the growth of embryos outside of a mother’s uterus for the first time in history. Although only being able to sustain the embryo for a limited amount of time, scientists say that it is more than enough for them to study the growth of embryos during the essential stage between the fourth and the eighth day of development.

One of the leading authors of the paper, professor Shakesheff said that by using unique materials they were able to create such a device, offering a new view of embryo development throughout the world. He also added that the current study is a breakthrough that will permit future researchers to understand how human tissue is formed and even develop new medical techniques that would help regenerate damaged tissue.

Artificial Uterus

Until now, the observation of the embryo was possible only until it had reached its fourth day of development, when it transforms into a blastocyst. Any attempt to study the further development of the embryo involved the use of snapshots taken from embryos which had been removed from a living uterus.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham have made further observation of the embryo possible. For the first time in medical history, they have been able to study the process involved in the formation of the fetus’ head. Whilst researching this process, they also discovered that a group of precursor cells moves quite the distance within the embryo. Many other cells are involved in the signaling of the location where the head of the fetus should be formed. This observation has been achieved by using fluorescent markers on the signaling protein, found only in the head of the fetus.

These particular cells seem to have a major role in the forming of the fetus head. They appear to be only a couple of cells that emerge from the blastocyst and migrate to the location where the head will be formed, leading the other cells to the location through specific signaling.

The current discovery is only part of the research from the University of Nottingham. Researchers are trying to understand the complex process that stands behind the development of the embryo so that they can use the advantage of knowledge to try to treat a damaged adult body.

The necessary funding was provide by the European Research Council.