Human kidney cells grown in pig embryos

SGGP 09/09/2023 08:52

In a study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, scientists from the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, China, said they had successfully grown kidneys containing human cells in pig embryos.

The researchers transferred a total of 1,820 embryos into 13 sows, then terminated the pregnancies at 25 and 28 days for evaluation. The results showed that five of the selected embryos had normal kidneys during development, with the beginnings of ureters that connect to the bladder. These kidneys contained 50% to 60% human cells.

Zhen Dai, a co-author of the study, said there were very few human neurons in the pig's brain and spinal cord, and none in the genital area. Although the approach marks the first time a complete organ containing human cells has been grown in a pig, any human cells present in the pig's brain is still a concern, according to Professor Darius Widera, a stem cell biologist at the University of Reading (UK).

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nuoi-cay-than-chua-te-bao-nguoi-trong-phoi-thai-heo-post704892.html