Testicles may provide a better kind of stem cell

The Times (London) ^ | 3/25/2006 | Mark Henderson

[FerdieMurphy]

Men may be carrying in their testicles an almost limitless supply of spare part cells for treating disease and injury, research has suggested.

Scientists in Germany have successfully isolated a new kind of stem cell from the testes of adult mice that can grow into a full range of tissue types, offering a possible alternative to embryonic stem (ES) cells for medical therapies.

If the findings are repeated in people, it could become possible to harvest the cells from testicles and grow them into specialised tissues for treating conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and paralysis.

As the cells would come from the patient’s own body, they would be a precise genetic match and would not risk rejection. This source of tissue would thus remove any need for therapeutic cloning.

The study will be published next week in Nature

[FerdieMurphy]

FYI

[afnamvet]

I don't have a lot of buy in for that harvesting idea.

[sure_fine]

it would hurt some of our republican leaders to get some of that testicle stuff

[sure_fine]

it wouldn't hurt some of our republican leaders to get some of that testicle stuff

[CheyennePress]

You want them to grow rodent balls now?

[BallyBill]

Them crazy Germans and their medical experiments!

[Dallas59]

I knew an old chick once that...well...never mind.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[marvlus]

I don't have a lot of buy in for that harvesting idea.

C'mon, grow some balls!! :-)

[funkywbr]

It's good to be MANLY!~}

[billorites]

More testicles means more iron.

[sure_fine]

"You want them to grow rodent balls now?"



at least that would be some, as opposed to what they have now

[afnamvet]

[Wonder Warthog]

"I don't have a lot of buy in for that harvesting idea."

If it came down to a choice between dying and having the docs harvest a testicle, you can bet they'd call me "One-Ball". But I would bet that a simple tissue sample would be enough. Remember--what they do with the stem cells is grow more of them outside the body. All they need is the initial template cells to get the culture started.

Given this, I'll bet they find the same thing for women and ovaries.

[kstewskis]

Oh sure.

I can just see the long line of men waiting to donate their testicles for the cause.

/s

[marvlus]

Quite a supply! Easy target, too, for the depraved! :-)

[Right Wing Assault]

If this holds true, the ultra-feminists will have to admit that men are good for something. Of course, a few of them could probably provide the goods, too.

[pauly1965]

The Liberals and Democrats are gonna be out of luck on this one. IF they have Testes, they'll have to get them out of their wives purses first. Come to think of it, politicians may also have trouble...

[peyton randolph]

I can just see the long line of men waiting to donate their testicles for the cause.

---

Just tell the DUmmies that it is a line for free weed and anti-Bush bumper stickers.

[jmq]

I would donate mine but they have too much brass content....

I would donate mine but my first wife took'em in the divorce....

I would donate them but........