Monday, June 18, 2007

Blood vessels in rats made from stem cells: study

Source: Reuters
Posted: June 18, 2007 11:36AM EDT

Summary:

Reuters reports scientists have made new blood vessels for transplants from muscle stem cells:

"Stem cells taken from muscle tissue can be used to build new blood vessels for transplants, researchers reported...They grew these stem cells on elastic biodegradable tubes to engineer new blood vessels for rats within days of extracting the cells. The finding, presented at a meeting in Toronto, might lead to a way to create customized blood vessel grafts to use in patients with heart and kidney disease, the researchers said."