Source: Bloomberg News
Date: June 18, 2007, Last Updated: June 18, 2007 02:49 EDT
Summary:
Bloomberg News reports Japanese researchers have used mouse embryonic stem cells to grow kidneys in mice:
"Researchers at the University of Tokyo used stem cells from a mouse embryo to grow kidneys in mice lacking the organs, a step toward creating human body parts for transplants patients. Scientists led by Hiromitsu Nakauchi at the university's Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy injected embryonic stem cells into juvenile mouse embryos lacking a crucial gene needed to grow kidneys. Once implanted into the uterus, the embryos grew into fetuses with kidneys."
Researchers believe this development may eventually lead to the creation of natural human organs, eliminating the need for human organ transplants:
"The research may spur the production of replacement organs that would avoid the need for patients to wait for life-saving transplants. About 100,000 people are waiting for donors in the U.S., the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network said on its Web site. Kidneys are the most needed body parts, followed by livers, lungs and hearts."
