Two mouse embryos successfully grown on ISS
Taken from figure 2 of the paper
In a paper just published, scientists reveal that in 2021 they successfully grew two mouse embryos in weightlessness on ISS, suggesting that “perhaps mammalian space reproduction is possible, although it may be somewhat affected,” as they note in the conclusion of their paper [pdf].
From the papers abstract:
The embryos cultured under microgravity conditions developed into blastocysts with normal cell numbers, ICM, trophectoderm, and gene expression profiles similar to those cultured under artificial-1 g control on the International Space Station and ground-1 g control, which clearly demonstrated that gravity had no significant effect on the blastocyst formation and initial differentiation of mammalian embryos.
The images to the right come from the paper’s second figure, and compare the blastocysts from a ground control (top), an 1g artificial sample on ISS (middle), and the weightless result (bottom).
The experiment has many uncertainties, with the low number of embryos tested the most important. Quoting the paper’s conclusion again, the possibilities of refining this experiment for better results are great:
Unfortunately, the number of blastocysts obtained from the ISS experiment was not abundant; and we have not been able to confirm the impact on offspring because we have not produced offspring from embryos developed in space. We believe that the ETC [the experiment itself] will allow blastocysts to be frozen on the ISS if a cryoprotectant is used in place of PFA [a solution of formaldehyde]. Then, the frozen blastocysts could be brought back to Earth for transfer to a female recipient, and the viability of the blastocysts could be evaluated. Moreover, we could design a device to launch frozen oocytes and spermatozoa to the ISS, where in vitro fertilization experiments could be performed in microgravity. The use of this approach would be cheaper. Furthermore, the study of mammalian reproduction in space is essential to start the space age, making it necessary to study and clarify the effect of space environment before the ISS is no longer operational.
Despite the uncertainties, these results are significant. They suggest that human reproduction in zero gravity is possible, which also suggests it will be even more possible in lower gravity environments like the Moon or Mars.
Taken from figure 2 of the paper
In a paper just published, scientists reveal that in 2021 they successfully grew two mouse embryos in weightlessness on ISS, suggesting that “perhaps mammalian space reproduction is possible, although it may be somewhat affected,” as they note in the conclusion of their paper [pdf].
From the papers abstract:
The embryos cultured under microgravity conditions developed into blastocysts with normal cell numbers, ICM, trophectoderm, and gene expression profiles similar to those cultured under artificial-1 g control on the International Space Station and ground-1 g control, which clearly demonstrated that gravity had no significant effect on the blastocyst formation and initial differentiation of mammalian embryos.
The images to the right come from the paper’s second figure, and compare the blastocysts from a ground control (top), an 1g artificial sample on ISS (middle), and the weightless result (bottom).
The experiment has many uncertainties, with the low number of embryos tested the most important. Quoting the paper’s conclusion again, the possibilities of refining this experiment for better results are great:
Unfortunately, the number of blastocysts obtained from the ISS experiment was not abundant; and we have not been able to confirm the impact on offspring because we have not produced offspring from embryos developed in space. We believe that the ETC [the experiment itself] will allow blastocysts to be frozen on the ISS if a cryoprotectant is used in place of PFA [a solution of formaldehyde]. Then, the frozen blastocysts could be brought back to Earth for transfer to a female recipient, and the viability of the blastocysts could be evaluated. Moreover, we could design a device to launch frozen oocytes and spermatozoa to the ISS, where in vitro fertilization experiments could be performed in microgravity. The use of this approach would be cheaper. Furthermore, the study of mammalian reproduction in space is essential to start the space age, making it necessary to study and clarify the effect of space environment before the ISS is no longer operational.
Despite the uncertainties, these results are significant. They suggest that human reproduction in zero gravity is possible, which also suggests it will be even more possible in lower gravity environments like the Moon or Mars.