A recent study using stem cell-based models has provided new insights into the beginning stages of human embryo development, potentially leading to advancements in fertility treatment.
The University of Exeter Living Systems Institute conducted the study, uncovering the process by which early embryo cells determine their role in either the foetus or the supporting yolk sac.
Comprehending this crucial decision is significant due to its impact on the overall development of the embryo.
k sac is crucial for the later development of the embryo in the womb. It is important to produce the correct number of cells that form the yolk sac, especially for infertility treatments using IVF embryos.
Research on human embryos is limited, so the research team, which included the University of Edinburgh, used naive stem cells that have the ability to create all the different types of cells and structures found in early embryos. They created stem cell models to investigate the formation of yolk sac founders, also known as hypoblast.
The significant discovery, which was published in Cell Stem Cell, involves identifying a critical signal that plays a crucial role during a short period of time.The window of time, less than one day, is crucial for signaling cells to become hypoblast. The signal comes from a protein called fibroblast growth factor, which is produced within the embryo. Previous research had overlooked the significance of this signal in human embryos. The new discoveries indicate that the initial processes involved in the formation of an embryo and its supporting tissues are similar in humans and other mammals.
Dr. Ge Guo, the lead author from the University of Exeter’s Living System Institute, stated: “Our findings offer insights into how the correct proportions of different cell types develop in the early human embryo. We hope that our research will have an impact on infertility treatment in the future.”
According to Professor Austin Smith, who is the Director of the University of Exeter’s Living Systems Institute, the study demonstrates the potential of stem cell-based models in uncovering the early stages of human embryo development. This represents a significant advancement in stem cell research and embryo models, laying the groundwork for future studies on the initial development of the human embryo.
The research paper titled ‘Naive pluripotent stem cell-based models capture FGF-dependent human hypoblast lineage specification’ has been published in Cell Stem Cell. It was carried out in collaboration with Professor Jennifer Nichols from the University of Edinburgh.
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