Friday 25 February 2011

Artificial Ovaries

From In vitro maturation of oocytes via the pre-fabricated self-assembled artificial human ovary by Krotz et al, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Volume 27, Number 12, 743-750, DOI: 10.1007/s10815-010-9468-6
An artificial human ovary can be created with self-assembled human theca and granulosa cell microtissues, and used for IVM (in vitro maturation) and future oocyte toxicology studies.
...
Recently, our group developed a new method for the self-assembly of 3D microtissues from monodispersed cells. Cells are seeded into the recesses of micro-molded agarose gels, and allowed to self-assemble into 3D microtissues. These microtissues can be harvested from the molds, combined and co-cultured to form more complex microtissues. This system was used to create an artificial human ovary composed of the three functional ovarian follicle cell types: theca, granulosa and oocytes. We hypothesize the artificial human ovary more closely recreates the 3D interaction between the three follicular cell types critical to follicular maturation, can be used to mature early antral oocytes, and serves as a model for testing follicular physiology and toxicology.
Still a long way to go before it's ready for therapeutic use. Decades, probably. But only a few.

This means that one day in the not-too-distant future, it's highly likely those Intersexed women with Swyer syndrome and "everything but the ovaries" may be able to give birth to their own biological children. Twenty years? Thirty? Not much more than that, I think. I can't estimate accurately, my knowledge of biology isn't up to it.

With the extension of human lifespans, it's not impossible that young trans girls alive today could give birth. As well as many, many more women who have been given cancer treatment, or who have various more serious intersex conditions. We still have a long way to go, but now we know a road exists.

I can see it here from Mount Nebo. And maybe I can cheat and get a do over.

3 comments:

Brian said...

This artificial ovary was grown in the 3d petri dish by microtissues.com. Used to grow spheroids like Mammospheres and Neurospheres.

Who else is using the 3d petri dish?

-Brian

mythusmage said...

It means the day when a m to f person can have children of her own is just that much closer.

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