In a groundbreaking series of studies published this week, researchers have successfully replicated early pregnancy stages using engineered organoids and human embryos. Conducted within a microfluidic chip in a Beijing laboratory, the experiments captured the critical moment of implantation, where an embryo attaches to the uterine lining. This innovative approach utilizes organoids derived from human endometrial cells to mimic the uterus, providing a new avenue for understanding the complexities of early pregnancy and improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.
The research, comprising three significant papers, highlights collaborative efforts from teams in China, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States. By merging human embryos obtained from IVF centers with these organoid models, scientists aim to decipher the reasons behind the high failure rates associated with IVF procedures. According to Jun Wu, a biologist from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, this technique represents the most comprehensive laboratory simulation of the initial days of pregnancy to date. This study not only focuses on the embryo’s development but also sheds light on the critical interaction between the embryo and the uterine lining, a process traditionally obscured from direct observation.
Researchers have previously faced limitations in studying embryo implantation due to ethical constraints and the inherent challenges of observing this process within a living body. The Beijing team explored both donated IVF embryos and artificial constructs known as blastoids, which are generated from stem cells. This exploration enables the researchers to conduct a large number of experiments without the same ethical concerns tied to actual embryos. The findings indicate that these organoid systems could eventually lead to significant advancements in IVF practices, including the identification of effective medications that enhance embryo implantation success. With further development, the researchers aspire to initiate clinical trials to test various therapeutic agents, potentially transforming the landscape of reproductive health.
Source: Researchers are getting organoids pregnant with human embryos via MIT Technology Review