[DRAFT]: The Future of Fertility: How In Vitro Gametogenesis Could Revolutionize Reproduction

Created

Jan 16, 2025 10:59 AM

Topics

fertility

Author

vasa

Let me walk you through this diagram, which shows the complete process of creating egg cells (oocytes) in the laboratory. Think of it as a recipe with several distinct stages, each building on the last.

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ESCs (Embryonic Stem Cells): These are the starting materials - think of them as blank slate cells that can become any type of cell in the body. They're shown in blue in the diagram.

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EpiLCs (Epiblast-like Cells): The ESCs are first converted into these intermediate cells, shown as purple cells. This is like preparing the raw ingredients before the main cooking process begins.

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PGCLCs (Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells): These cells, shown in red, are the precursors to egg cells. They're similar to the cells in early embryos that would naturally develop into eggs.

Then the main three-stage process begins:

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IVDi (In Vitro Differentiation) - 3 weeks: The PGCLCs are combined with somatic cells (support cells) from E12.5 gonad (embryonic ovary tissue) in a dish. Together, they form what's called a reconstituted ovary (rOvary). During this stage, the PGCLCs develop into primary oocytes, shown as a larger red cell surrounded by supporting cells. This is like creating a miniature artificial ovary in the lab.

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IVG (In Vitro Growth) - 11 days: The primary oocytes grow into what's called GV (Germinal Vesicle) oocytes. Notice how the supporting cells around the egg cell have multiplied and organized themselves. This mimics how eggs develop in a real ovary.

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IVM (In Vitro Maturation) - 1 day: The final stage transforms the GV oocytes into MII (Metaphase II) oocytes, which are mature eggs capable of being fertilized. The surrounding support cells have changed their arrangement again, as would happen in natural egg development.