Project on the blastocyst complementation for organ regeneration

We successfully produced “mouse ↔ rat xenochimera” by injecting mouse ES/iPS cells into rat blastocysts, or conversely injecting rat ES/iPS cells into mouse blastocysts. By combining “mouse ↔ rat xenochimera” and “blastocyst complementation” systems, functional mouse pancreas and kidneys can be produced in the developmental niche of the respective organs in Pdx1-KO and Sall-KO rats, respectively. This system would be a nice model for regenerating human organs inside livestock (e.g., pig).

Project on the control of early embryonic development and germ cell development in non-rodent species

If functional gametes (sperm and ova) with fertility and ontogeny can be generated in vitro from ES/iPS cells, they are expected to apply not only to efficient GM animal generation or livestock generation but also to human reproductive medicine. To this end, in addition to research on mice that are currently undergoing rapid progress, the understanding early embryonic and germ cell development and the artificial gamete reconstruction in vitro are desired in various animal species. Therefore, we expand the study from laboratory rats to non-rodent animal species such as rabbits.