In vitro gametogenesis and reproductive cloning: Can we allow one while banning the other?

In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is believed to be the next big breakthrough in reproductive medicine. The prima facie acceptance of this possible future technology is notable when compared to the general prohibition on human reproductive cloning. After all, if safety is the main reason for not allowing reproductive cloning, one might expect a similar conclusion for the reproductive application of IVG, since both technologies hold considerable and comparable risks. However, safety concerns may be overcome, and are presumably not the sole reason why cloning is being condemned. We therefore assess the non‐safety arguments against reproductive cloning, yet most of these can also be held against IVG. The few arguments that cannot be used against IVG are defective. We conclude from this that it will be hard to defend a ban on reproductive cloning while accepting the reproductive use of IVG.     

Recombinant human gonadotropins for macaque superovulation: repeated stimulations and post-treatment pregnancies

This report summarizes data from the superovulation and ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration of 40 female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with recombinant human gonadotropins. Of the animals treated, 12 were stimulated for only one cycle, either because of a poor response to the hormones or due to ectopic ovarian position precluding ease of access via ultrasound. The majority of animals were stimulated for a minimum of 3 cycles and 3 females continued to respond for a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 cycles. For those animals with repeated stimulation cycles, the number of follicles developed during each of the stimulation protocols remained relatively comparable. Of the animals mated since cessation of treatment, 70% conceived. There was no difference between the conception rate in this subset of animals and the rest of the macaque breeding colony. These data indicate that participation in these studies does not impact on the reproductive potential of female rhesus monkeys.     

Embryonic stem cells: a promising tool for cell replacement therapy

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are revolutionizing the field of developmental biology as a potential tool to understand the molecular mechanisms occurring during the process of differentiation from the embryonic stage to the adult phenotype. ES cells harvested from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the early embryo can proliferate indefinitely in vitro while retaining the ability to differentiate into all somatic cells. Emerging results from mice models with ES cells are promising and raising tremendous hope among the scientific community for the ES-cell based cell replacement therapy (CRT) of various severe diseases. ES cells could potentially revolutionize medicine by providing an unlimited renewable source of cells capable of replacing or repairing tissues that have been damaged in almost all degenerative diseases such as diabetes, myocardial infarction and Parkinson's disease. This review updates the progress of ES cell research in CRT, discusses about the problems encountered in the practical utility of ES cells in CRT and evaluates how far this approach is successful experimentally.     

Having sex,yes, but with whom? Inferences from fungi on the evolution of anisogamy and mating types

The advantage of sex has been among the most debated issues in biology. Surprisingly, the question of why sexual reproduction generally requires the combination of distinct gamete classes, such as small and large gametes, or gametes with different mating types, has been much less investigated. Why do systems with alternative gamete classes (i.e. systems with either anisogamy or mating types or both) appear even though they restrict the probability of finding a compatible mating partner? Why does the number of gamete classes vary from zero to thousands, with most often only two classes? We review here the hypotheses proposed to explain the origin, maintenance, number, and loss of gamete classes. We argue that fungi represent highly suitable models to help resolve issues related to the evolution of distinct gamete classes, because the number of mating types vary from zero to thousands across taxa, anisogamy is present or not, and because there are frequent transitions between these conditions. We review the nature and number of gamete classes in fungi, and we attempt to draw inferences from these data on the evolutionary forces responsible for their appearance, loss or maintenance, and number.     

体外神经干细胞克隆球的超微结构-透射电镜观察

为观察培养的神经干细胞克隆球内部的超微结构特征,采用无血清培养技术,在体外进行小鼠纹状体神经干细胞克隆球的培养传代,经过免疫细胞化学鉴定后,对单一的神经干细胞克隆球进行固定,常规透射电镜观察。结果表明,神经干细胞可以在bFGF等生长因子存在的情况下,在无血清培养液内增殖生成悬浮状态的神经干细胞克隆球,这种克隆可被诱导生成神经细胞和神经胶质细胞,电镜下,神经干细胞克隆球内部细胞相互间可形成特化的膜性结构,细胞内可有小泡出现,部分细胞有凋亡的形态。     

Sertoli细胞饲养层对小鼠精原干细胞增殖的影响

摘要 目的 以小鼠睾丸支持细胞(Sertoli)为饲养层,小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞(STO) 饲养层做对照,研究它对小鼠精原干细胞增殖的影响。方法 用无血清StemPro-34 SFM培养基培养2～5日龄小鼠精原干细胞,分别用相差显微镜观察,免疫组化法研究Sertoli饲养层对精原干细胞生物学行为的影响。结果 发现精原干细胞在Sertoli及STO两种饲养层上的一周内的生物学行为非常相似,但培养1周后,Sertoli细胞作饲养层的培养体系中保留的精原干细胞要比对照组明显增多,约有30%的精原干细胞能存活下来并能维持存活到60d以上。结论 Sertoli细胞作饲养层明显促进精原干细胞的更新增殖。