Scientists are attempting to grow human eggs in a lab.
According to the journal Human Reproduction, doctors at the University of Edinburgh are trying to grow human eggs in the laboratory. Six women were enrolled in the study and they had ovarian biopsies taken while they were having a caesarean section.
Researchers grew this tissue at 37 degrees in a special cell culture medium they had developed. After six days they transferred the tissue to another medium for additional growth.
There were 74 immature follicles resulting from this tissue which were placed on plates and grown for another four days.
A chemical called Activin was used on the follicles. This chemical has previously been used to mature eggs from sheep and cows, but never been used for human eggs.
The researchers noticed that at the end of the time period they were studying, the follicles had developed more mature eggs than immature ones. Those grown with the Activin were more healthy than those that were grown without.
They concluded that they had been successful at producing pre-antral follicles. Pre-antrals are human eggs at an early stage of development. This is exciting as it is the first time that scientists have attempted to grow an egg outside of the human body, rather than just harvesting eggs from the woman directly.
Why Would Doctors Want To Grow Human Eggs?
With more research, they may be able to perfect a technique for growing mature eggs which are good enough to be used in IVF. It would improve the chances of cancer patients to have a family, as ovarian tissue could be removed prior to chemotherapy or surgery to remove the cancerous part of the body. Specialists may then be able to grow new eggs for the patient, which are biologically hers so that she and her partner have the chance of a genetically related baby through IVF.
It might also address the issue of donor shortages. In 2005, laws regarding the anonymity of donors were changed. Donors are now no longer anonymous and are placed on a donor register. They can then be traced when the child reaches 18, if he so wishes. This led to a dramatic reduction in volunteers willing to donate eggs and sperm and the threatened closure of some UK IVF clinics. If scientists could grow their own supplies using tissue samples, this may solve the problem.
The Downside
This is experimental and is nowhere near the stages needed to even become a tentative treatment for women. It is years off being clinically useful and even if doctors were able to grow viable eggs in the lab, they have no idea whether they would be normal or have the ability to produce normal babies. There may be children born from the procedure who have disabilities or the eggs might not fertilize. At this time, any research is speculative.
