It was recently reported that a team of British scientists have conducted a study with the objective to repair the damaged brains of stroke patients with the use of stem cells extracted from aborted fetuses.

Stroke is the rapid loss of brain function caused by an interruption in the blood supply to all or part of the brain.  This results to lack of oxygen and glucose supplies to the brain.  Stroke is a medical emergency that can result to permanent brain damage or may even be fatal if not diagnosed and treated immediately.  It is said to become the leading cause of death around the world in the coming years.

ReNeuron, a UK biotech company, is seeking permission from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct trials for their research.  FDA is the agency in the United States that is the responsible for American research regulation.  If FDA should approve the said study, scientists are planning to conduct the trials on twelve patients next year.

A microscope for phase contrast is a helpful tool for a research study like this.  Living cells which are usually grown in a culture environment and thin tissue specimens are best viewed under a microscope for phase contrast.  Because living cells can be examined at their natural state, ongoing biological processes can be observed under this microscope for phase contrast.  As such, this microscope for phase contrast is a beneficial tool in stem cell related research.  With such microscope for phase contrast, living cells can be better observed.

The researchers are hoping to extract stem cells from the developing brain area of a 12 week aborted fetus.  Stem cells are may be extracted from all multi-cellular organisms.  Such cells have the ability to renew themselves and can develop into a variety of specialized cell types.  The next step in the said research is for such extracted cells will be implanted to stroke patients.  The said stem cells are hoped to develop into neurons and would possess the ability to produce new brain tissues.

It was reported that when such stem cells were used on laboratory rats, paralyzed by stroke, the said rats were able to regain mobility.

The head of stem cell discovery at ReNeuron, Dr Eric Miljan, said that their team has already conducted a series of tests on animals and that they were successful.  As such, they feel that they are ready to conduct such testing on humans.  In order for the proposed research to be successful, a gene called c-myc has to be customized to prevent any chance of uncontrolled reproduction of cells that may lead to cancer.

Michael Hunt, ReNeuron’s chief executive officer, reported that their system of research is fully controllable and that no abnormalities throughout the growth process have resulted.

The company asserts that they can create unlimited numbers of stem cells from just one sample of fetal tissue.  Furthermore, they hope that such extraction of stem cells will reduce the objections that are anticipated from anti-abortion groups.Here is a link to the article