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Scientists see progress in stem cell control By Reuters, 9/16/2003 WASHINGTON -- Japanese researchers said yesterday that they had coaxed embryonic stem cells from mice into becoming sperm cells -- a key step into understanding how to control these "master cells" of the body. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may offer more ways to use the embryonic cells, found in tiny embryos just a few days old. The cells have the potential to become any kind of cell in the body. Scientists hope to harness them to use in a range of medical treatments, from tissue transplants to a new science called regenerative medicine. Theoretically, the approach could cure cancer and diabetes, and mend severed spinal cords. The use of human embryonic cells is controversial because some people, including President Bush, oppose manipulating or destroying human embryos. But scientists believe that if they can understand how the cells work, they may be able to redirect ordinary adult cells into forming new tissues. Toshiaki Noce and colleagues at the Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences incubated mouse stem cells with other cells that produced BMP4, a protein known to stimulate sperm cell formation during normal embryonic development. When implanted into the testes of other mice, the primitive cells matured into sperm, they reported. They said their findings offer a model for studying these basic steps in the development of a new, living mammal. The researchers noted that a separate team of scientists is about to report that they have coaxed stem cells into becoming egg cells. This offers ways to understand how sperm and egg first develop, as well as to offer "a novel approach to reproductive engineering," they wrote. SOURCE: Boston.com, MA http://tinyurl.com/nn8b * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn