Here is an article about embryo transplantation. Embryo transplantation is the transferring of eggs from the ovaries via invitro fertilization of the sperm and insertion of fertilized egg into the uterus. It is a complex operation that requires a series of procedure from harvesting to testing embryo viability through the use of an embryo transplant microscope to introducing the egg to the female. Although success rate is high it is advised that before performing this therapy woman should have their blood tested to determine if she has a chance of getting pregnant. Also through the blood test it can accurately determine when the right time will be to accept the embryo. The first embryo transplantation was first tested on animals.
A member of Croy’s immunology laboratory at the Ontario Veterinary College, Marianne van den Heuvel is very much excited of her research of the immune system in human pregnancy. In 2003, Professor Anne Croy and post-doctoral researcher Marianne van den Heuvel saw the problem of women having trouble getting pregnant. Immune system not only helps fights against flu and chicken pox but it has the capability to make women pregnant.
The interest of Croy’s in the immunology of pregnancy made her realize the capability of medicine and expand information that will develop the health of the people and animals.
After pursuing immunology in mammals up to the function of blood lymphocytes in pregnancy, she has given her attention on pre-eclampsia; a condition in pregnant women involving high blood pressure and which leads to early delivery. The first animal used by Croy and her research team to imitate the characteristics of blood vessels was the mice. Through a series of test and observation using instruments, embryo transplant microscope and monitors it was discovered that pre eclampsia can be avoided by adding natural killing cells (lymphocytes) in the blood stream.
Additional research was made by Croy together with David Osoba about the strain of hairless mouse that had no thymus gland and found out that it has a genetic defect. Other model animals that are included in her research were pigs and cattle. Here additional test were done to confirm earlier results.
In 1980, Croy and her colleagues Guelph, again conduct a research of a severe combined immuno-deficient (SCID) and still mice is the model for that research. She studied the immune system to find out if there is a difference in the immune reaction during pregnancy that hinders the fetus from being rejected. This observation was done using a series of instruments and an embryo transplant microscope in peering through the egg. The aim of the research was to know if the model mouse will get pregnant despite missing lymphocytes.
As she continued her research she found out that mice with missing lymphocytes can produce immunity in response to an antigen that can occupy the body. Lymphocytes are natural killer cells because it has capability to identify and kill unknown cells like tumor cells and it is the part of our body’s immune system.
In her research with the mouse, it showed that the natural killer cell (lymphocytes) plays a very important role in cultivating the growing fetus instead of rejecting it. Because the lymphocytes remain in the blood vessels of a mother and flow to the fetus that’s why the lymphocytes has can’t reject it. The reproductive system of a mouse and a human being play the same role.The contribution of the model animals helps in the trial treatment of vitro fertilization. More on this topic