engleski

Survival of rat embryonic parts after ectopic transplantation

Investigation of the developmental potential of embryonic cells is important in designing novel approaches in the field of regenerative medicine. The purpose of our experiments was to compare the survival of different embryonic tissues transplanted at an ectopic site in vivo. Embryo proper (9, 5-days-old), neural retinas (20-days-old), lensectomized eyes (14- and 18-days-old), epiglottis (17-days-old), mandible (13- and 14- days-old), lachrymal gland (17 and 20-days old) were micro surgically isolated from rat embryos and transplanted under the kidney capsule. Embryo-proper survived in transplants at least for 60 days. Fetal rat retina survived in transplants for 180 days forming rosettes. By electron microscopy neural and glia cells with abundant neuropil as well as plexiform layers were found. The lensectomized eye survived in transplants for 66 days. Transdifferentiation of retina to lens cells was discovered. Epiglottis, mandible and the lachrymal gland survived in transplants at least for 14 days. In the mandible fully structured teeth developed. By this study we have shown that not only the early postimplantation embryo but also various more developed tissues and organs are able to survive under the kidney capsule at least for 14 days. This ectopic site has therefore proved to be a very convenient environment for transplantation experiments.

embryo; transplantation; kidney capsule; survival; differentiation

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