Data di Pubblicazione:
2008
Citazione:
Parthenogenetic activation: biology and applications in the ART laboratory / A. Paffoni, T. Brevini, F. Gandolfi, G. Ragni. - In: PLACENTA. - ISSN 0143-4004. - 29:suppl. B(2008 Oct), pp. S121-S125. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Conference on From Infertility Treatment to Reproductive Health tenutosi a Milano nel 2008.
Abstract:
Parthenogenesis is a reproductive strategy typical of lower species where a female gives birth to offsprings without a paternal contribution. On the contrary, parthenogenesis is not a form of natural reproduction in mammals even if mammalian oocytes, under appropriate stimuli, can undergo to parthenogenetic activation. This review describes the biological mechanisms regulating parthenogenetic activation in mammals and illustrates the fundamental differences between embryos and parthenotes. Ethical, legal and political concerns on the value of human embryos regulate and limit human embryological studies founded on the widespread belief that human embryos should not be created and studied for research purposes only. Based on the differences between parthenotes and embryos the use of parthenogenesis is proposed as an experimental tool to investigate embryo development which may solve many of the ethical concerns associated with the use of human embryos for experimental purposes. Examples of the possible uses of parthenotes in many field of research such as in vitro assays aimed to study some aspects of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), toxicology or stem cell are described and their validity is discussed.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Parthenogenesis; IVF; Embryo; Experimental model; Ethical tool
Elenco autori:
A. Paffoni, T. Brevini, F. Gandolfi, G. Ragni
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