A new study in mice from the University of Copenhagen suggests that a versatile and regenerative stem cell found in early embryos could play a pivotal role in developing more effective fertility treatments.
Pregnancy is a complex process involving the fertilization of an egg by a sperm cell, followed by cell division and embryo development. However, fertility challenges are increasingly common due to factors affecting sperm or egg quality and issues with embryo implantation. In Denmark, one out of eight pregnancies is assisted by fertility treatments.
The success rate of these treatments is currently low, ranging from 20-30%, depending on age and fertility levels. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made a breakthrough discovery that could lead to more successful fertility treatments in the future.
The study focused on a type of cells in mouse embryos called the primitive endoderm or hypoblast, which were found to have unique regenerative abilities. These cells could generate an embryo independently, potentially offering new insights into improving fertility treatments.
Furthermore, stem cells derived from the primitive endoderm could efficiently form “stem cell-based embryo models” called blastoids in laboratory settings, which could serve as vital tools for developing new drugs to enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.
Research suggests that the plasticity and robustness of these cells could help embryos survive adverse laboratory conditions, improving the chances of successful implantation.
While the study was conducted in mice, there are plans to explore similar research using human stem cells in the future.
The Cell’s Role in Development
During embryonic development, a single cell evolves into a cluster of cells, with specific cell types forming distinct structures like the placenta, yolk sac, or embryo itself. The primitive endoderm, a critical stage in this process, shows remarkable ability to develop into an embryo independently.
Researchers identified that primitive endoderm cells possess transcription factors that act as bookmarks on DNA, signaling how to create different cell types if needed. This memory-like function could be crucial in successful embryo development.
Unlocking New Possibilities
The study’s findings aim to enhance the success rates of IVF treatments and provide insights into infertility causes. Defects in the primitive endoderm may contribute to fertility issues by affecting nutrient provision and potential repair functions.
By studying these cells and their signaling mechanisms, researchers hope to improve IVF treatments and unravel the complexity of infertility causes.
The research team is committed to understanding the primitive endoderm’s capabilities further and leveraging this knowledge to enhance human primitive endoderm stem cells, potentially revolutionizing fertility treatments.
The study titled “The primitive endoderm supports lineage plasticity to enable regulative development” was published in Cell.
