Bulgarian Stem Cell Scientists Hope to Overcome Human Sterility

Bulgarian scientists are trying to produce human eggs or ova from stem cells, and if they succeed they would raise realistic hopes for the treatment of human sterility.

The research is being financed by the Bulgarian state as part of the efforts of the world scientific community in the application of stem cells for treatment of a variety of diseases.

Stem cells are extracted an embryo because they are the most basic cells out of which all tissue of the human body grows. The problem, however, is to discover what exactly makes one stem cell turn into a nerve cell, or a cardiac or genital cell.

Speaking at an open scientific symposium at Sofia University late on Saturday, Professor Rumen Pankov said that "the goal is to have the possibility of mature genital cells, both male and female, to reproduce, and eventually solve the problems with human sterility; or at least to research the problems that occur in formation of the normal so that we can find a cure for people who suffer from sterility".

Until now, scientists have succeeded in provoking the formation of spermatozoa, but only with mice. Even though developed in laboratory flasks, they were living organisms, even succeeding in producing live mice.

No-one has yet succeeded, though, with human genital cells.

"To put it frankly, these are defective embryos, which would never be used by any doctor for in-vitro insemination", said Prof. Pankov.

In any case, the expectations of people, it comes out, are much ahead of the abilities of scientists. That is why such clarifying lectures, like today's one, organized by ESTOOLS pan-European program, coordinating the efforts of many scientists.

One outstanding dilemma is to what extent is it moral to use embryos. The EU has long ago resolved this issue. America has clarified its position only after the election of Obama. Bulgarian legislation also allows the use of embryos for scientific purposes, with of course the specific consent of the couple involved.

Andrew Smith, ESTOOLS manager, said at the symposium that " the interest of society for the potential of stem cells is huge and we are trying to give this new knowledge to as many people as possible".

There is hardly a sphere in medicine where scientists are not experimenting with stem cells. But for now, confirmed methods and successes are rare.

ESTOOLS is a pan-European consortium of leading scientists in the field of stem cell research.It is the largest grouping of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell researchers in Europe. Spanning 10 countries, the project brings together the combined expertise of 21 academic and commercial research teams.

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