Publication Date:
2008-11-16
Description:
Despite great progress in molecular genetics and embryogenesis, size control of tissues and organs remains a mystery. In general, it seems that extrinsic mechanisms are associated with nutrition or systemic growth factors signaling such as the Insulin/PI3K or the TOR pathways, while intrinsic mechanisms are likely linked to patterning morphogens and apoptosis signaling complexes. Very recently we defined optimal ‘windows’ of gestation of human and pig embryonic precursor tissues which afford optimal growth and development of liver, pancreas and spleen upon implantation into NOD-SCID mice. This type of study enables not only a rational selection of tissue for transplantation but, among many parameters, it also provides a system and ability to manipulate organ size control. Using this system we surprisingly found that pig embryonic implants grow to a significantly larger size in Factor VIII Knock Out (KO) NOD-SCID mice. The average size of E42 pig spleen implant grown for 3 months in Factor VIII KO SCID recipients was 6.78 ± 2.16gr compared to 2.46 ± 0.82gr in non-hemophilic NOD-SCID recipients (p
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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