A mouse with a human liver
Human liver from stem cells grown in the head of mice
The corresponding study was conducted by a group of specialists led by Hideki Taniguchi from Yokohama University.
Taniguchi and his colleagues used induced pluripotent stem cells. From them, the researchers obtained progenitor cells of hepatocytes, which make up the bulk of the liver parenchyma.
During the experiment, scientists transplanted the resulting cells into the heads of mice. In this part of the body, the blood supply is the most intense, which contributed to the maturation and growth of the liver from progenitor cells.
The size of the organs grown in this way averaged five millimeters. According to the researchers, the livers turned out to be fully viable and functional. In particular, the organs successfully performed their main functions: protein synthesis and metabolism of drugs administered to animals.
Taniguchi noted that this study in the future will reduce the need for donor organs for transplantation.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru08.06.2012