Sumatran Rhino To Be Revived With Stem Cell Technology

After Malaysia’s last male Sumatran rhino, Kertam, died in 2019, a team from the Max Delbrück Center has now successfully grown stem cells and mini-brains from rhino’s skin cells

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As they report in "iScience", their goal is to use stem cell technology to create sperm cells that may help to save the endangered species from extinction

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The team led by Zywitza and Diecke has now reported an initial success: they have generated induced pluripotent stem cells, or short iPS cells, from Kertam’s skin samples

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Dr. Silke Frahm-Barske, who is also a scientist in Diecke’s research group, grew brain organoids from the cells. However, she added that the team had to treat the human and rhino iPS cells slightly differently in order to cultivate the brain organoids

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According to Zywitza, the stem cells obtained from Kertam’s skin serve another purpose of gaining insights into the evolution of organ development by providing unique tools from iPS cells of exotic animals

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The team’s next goal is to use Kertam’s iPS cells to grow sperm suitable for artificial insemination and for which they also plan to obtain iPS cells from other Sumatran rhinos

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Zywitza stated that to obtain sperm cells, first they need to use the iPS cells to cultivate primordial germ cells, the precursors of eggs and sperm, which is a more difficult step

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The females that have not been pregnant for a long time often become infertile, for example due to cysts that develop on their reproductive organs, or they may just be too old to bear young

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In addition, Zywitza stated even though their work is attempting to make the seemingly impossible possible, to ensure the survival of animals that would otherwise probably disappear from the planet, it must remain an exception and not become the rule

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This can at best make a small contribution to saving these rhinos from extinction. The protection and conservation of the habitats is equally important

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