Bone Marrow Stem Cells May Produce Egg Cells (moved from ATSNN), page 1

A study which has been published in the Journal, Cell, has found that stem cells from bone marrow could be a source of egg cells. The study has used mice to experiment on but believe the same may hold true for human cells, which would bring new fertility treatments for humans. The study has overturned the long term belief that egg cells are only generated in mammals as foetuses and when born no new eggs are produced.

www.abc.net.au
"Here we show that adult mouse ovaries can produce hundreds of new oocytes within 24 hours," the researchers wrote.

They also found evidence that the egg-generating stem cells also existed in human bone marrow.

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This finding is understood to have greater implications in the treatment of female infertility and menopause for women and the studies results will bring in a new era in these areas.

So far the standard treatment for these issues is by use of drugs but with the studies findings regenerative medicine and stem cell treatment may soon be the normal process of fertility treatment. It may prove to assist cancer patients who have had their egg supply damaged or removed by anti cancer treatments, leaving some hope for would be parents around the world.

[edit on 28-7-2005 by Mayet]